31st  CONGRESS,  I  SENATE.  ]  Ex.  Doc 

1st  Session.  No.  34. 


4-4-4- 
REPORT 

OF 

THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 


IN  ANSWER  TO 


./I  resolution  of  the  Senate  calling  for  information  in  relation  to  the  opera- 
tions of  the  commission  appointed  to  run  and  mark  the  boundary  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico. 


FEBRUARY  28,  1850. 

Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Finance. 

MARCH  I,  1850. 

Ordered  to  be  printed. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington ,  February  27,  1850. 

'  SIR:  In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  19th  instant, 
I  herewith  transmit  a  copy  of  all  the  correspondence  on  file  in  the  depart- 
ment relating  to  the  operations  of  the  commission  appointed,  pursuant  to 
the  fifth  article  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  to  run  and  mark  the 
boundary  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  showing  the  progress 
made  in  executing  said  commission,  and  embracing  a  detailed  statement 
of  the  amount  of  money  expended  therein. 

The  reports  of  the  commissioner  are  very  vague  and  unsatisfactory,  and 
I  am  not  in  possession  of  the  necessary  data  on  which  to  found  an  estimate 
of  the  amount  which  may  be  required  for  the  completion  of  the  work. 
Among  the  papers  herewith,  is  a  letter  from  Colonel  Abert,  of  the  corps 
of  topographical  engineers,  enumerating  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
making  up  sucli  estimate  here.  For  the  current  fiscal  year,  it  is  supposed; 
tli at  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  will  be  necessary. 

I  am,  sir,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 

vHon.  MlLLARD  FlLLMORE, 

President  of  the  Senate. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
Washington  City,  January  19,  1849. 

GENTLEMEN:  You  will  receive  herewith  the  list  of  instruments  belong- 
ing to  this  department  furnished  by  Major  Graham  on  the  29th  December 
last. 


[  34  ]  2 

Major  Graham  and  Major  Emory  will  proceed  immediately  to  New  York, 
and,  if  they  should  deem  it  advisable,  to  the  other  cities  where  these  instru- 
ments are  deposited;  and  Major  Graham,  in  whose  custody  they  now  are, 
will  deliver  such  of  them  to  Major  Emory,  the  chief  of  the  corps  of  topo- 
graphical enginers  designated  to  accompany  the  commissioner  and  sur- 
veyor under  the  5th  article  of  the  late  treaty  with  Mexico,  as  he  may  deem 
necessary  for  correctly  running  and  marking  the  boundary  line  between 
the  two  republics,  taking  duplicate  receipts  for  the  same.  Major  Graham 
will  deliver  one  of  these  receipts  to  the  department,  and  preserve  the 
other. 

Major  Emory  will  then  proceed  at  once  to  cause  any  or  all  of  the  instru- 
ments so  delivered  to  him  to  be  repaired,  if  need  be,  and  fitted  for  the 
survey  of  the  Mexican  boundary,  and  to  be  packed  and  placed  in  boxes 
for  transportation  on  mules. 

All  the  actual  expenses  incurred  in  executing  these  instructions,  as  well 
as  the  personal  expenses  of  Majors  Graham  and  Emory,  will  be  paid  out 
of  the  appropriation  made  on  the  12th  August  last,  not  exceeding  .$50,000, 
"for  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the  boundary  line  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  and  paying  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  the 
commission."  Accounts  of  these  expenses,  properly  vouched,  will  be 
settled  by  the  Fifth  Auditor. 

Major  Emory,  after  having  received  and  examined  such  instruments  as 
he  may  require,  will  report  immediately  to  this  department  what  other 
instruments  he  may  deem  necessary  for  the  survey,  together  with  their 
probable  cost,  and  where  they  may  be  obtained  the  most  speedily  and 
upon  the  best  terms. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 
.  Major  J.  D.  GRAHAM  and  Major  WILLIAM  H.  EMORY, 

of  the  Topographical  Engineers  of  the  U.  S.  Army. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

WusJdngton,  January  24,  1849. 

SIR:  The  fifth  article  of  the  treaty  requiring  that  the  commissioners  and 
surveyors  of  the  United  States  and  Mexico  respectively  should  meet  at  San 
Diego  before  the  30th  May,  1849,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  organizing  the 
commission  on  our  part,  preparatory  to  its  departure  for  the  place  of  desti- 
nation. As  you  will  be  held  responsible  for  the  able  and  faithful  execu- 
tion of  the  important  public  trust  confided  to  you  by  this  article  of  the 
treaty,  the  President  deems  it  proper  to  leave  to  you  the  organization  of 
the  commission,  enjoining  it  upon  you,  at  the  same  time,  to  employ  as  few 
persons  to  assist  you  as  may  be  compatible  with  the  successful  and  effi- 
cient performance  of  your  duties,  and  to  study  economy,  as  far  as  practi- 
cable, in  all  your  expenditures. 

The  organization  will  be  effected  solely  with  a  view  to  run  and  mark 
the  boundary  line  between  the  two  republics,  although  the  selection  of 
individuals  for  this  purpose  may  be  made  with  reference  to  the  incidental 
collection  of  information  relative  to  the  construction  of  "a  road,  canal,  or 
railway"  along  the  river  Gila,  as  provided  for  by  the  sixth  article  of  the 
treaty. 


3  [34] 

In  organizing  the  commission,  you  are  referred  for  any  information 
which  you  may  deem  necessary  to  Andrew  B.  Gray,  esq.,  who  has  been 
appointed  surveyor  under  the  treaty,  and  Major  William  H.  Emory,  of  the 
topographical  engineers,  whom  the  President  has  designated  to  be  " chief 
astronomer  and  head  of  the  topographical  scientific  corps  of  the  commis- 
sion." 

Congress,  by  the  civil  and  diplomatic  act  of  August  12,  1848,  has 
appropriated,  "for  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  and  paying  the  salaries  of  the 
officers  of  the  commission,  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  thousand  dollars;" 
and  the  President  considers  that  he  will  best  effectuate  the  intentions  of 
Congress  by  directing  that  the  expenses  of  the  commission,  for  one  year, 
shall  be  so  graduated  as  not  to  exceed  this  appropriation. 

You  will  be  charged  exclusively  with  the  disbursement  of  the  money 
thus  appropriated,  with  the  exception  of  the  sum  which  maybe  necessary 
to  execute  my  instructions  of  the  19th  instant  to  Majors  Graham  and 
Emory,  relative  to  the  delivery  of  astronomical  instruments  from  the 
former  to  the  latter,  for  the  use  of  the  commission. 

Your  salary  as  commissioner,  as  well  as  that  of  the  surveyor,  will  com- 
mence from  this  date.  In  case  Congress  should  not  declare  by  law  what 
these  salaries  shall  be,  they  will  be  fixed  by  the  President,  before  the  depar- 
ture of  the  commission  from  the  United  States.  Under  the  head  of  con- 
tingent expenses  of  the  commission  will  be  embraced  your  reasonable 
personal  expenses  while  in  service,  and  those  of  the  surveyor,  chief 
astronomer,  and  the  other  officers  of  the  topographical  engineers  who  may 
be  detailed  to  assist  you  in  the  field ;  the  pay  and  subsistance  of  assistant 
surveyors,  chain  carriers  and  laborers;  and  the  incidental  arid  necessary 
expense  of  exploring  parties;  the  purchase  of  stationery,  of  tents  and 
camp  equipage;  and  the  purchase  or  hire  of  horses,  mules,  and  vehicles  for 
the  transportation  of  the  same. 

Of  all  these  expenses  you  will  keep  a  regular  account,  which,  together 
with  the  necessary  vouchers,  you  will  render  and  transmit  quarterly  to  the 
Fifth  Auditor  of  the  Treasury  for  settlement;  and  to  meet  the  same,  as 
likewise  the  payment  of  the  salaries,  you  will,  from  time  to  time,  as  occa- 
sion may  require,  draw  upon  the  department,  taking  care  not  to  exceed  in 
the  amount  drawn  at  any  one  time  the  sum  which  will  be  required  to  meet 
the  actual  and  necessary  expenses  of  the  commission. 

After  the  commission  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  shall  have  been 
properly  ^organized  under  your  direction,  and  before  your  departure  from 
the  country,  you  will  receive  further  instructions. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 
JOHN  B.  WELLER,  Esq.,  t( Commissioner  for  running  the  boundary  line 

between  the  United  States  and  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  under  the  fiftk 

arti-le  of  the  treaty  with  that  republic  concluded  on  the  2d  February, 

1848," 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
Washington,  13th  February,  1849. 

SIR:  In  my  instructions  of  the  24th  ultimo,  I  promised  to  send  you 
further  instructions  before  your  departure  from  the  United  States.     I  now 


[34]  4 

proceed  to  perform  this  duty.  The  fifth  article  of  the  treaty  with  Mexico 
of  the  2d  of  February,  1848,  as  amended  by  the  Senate,  (two  copies  o-f 
which  are  herewith  transmitted,)  clearly  prescribes  your  duties. 

This  article  places  you  in  a  highly  responsible  position;  because  it  de- 
clares that  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  republics  which  shall  be 
run  and  marked  by  the  joint  commission  shall  be  deemed  a  part  of  the 
treaty,  "  and  shall  have  the  same  force  as  if  it  were  inserted  therein." 
The  action  of  the  commission,  therefore,  will  be  final  and  conclusive^ 
and  the  President  has  full  confidence  that,  in  the  discharge  of  your  im- 
portant duties,  your  conduct  will  be  characterized  by  prudence,  firmness, 
and  a  conciliatory  spirit.  While  he  desires  no  advantage  over  the  Mex- 
ican government,  you  will  take  care,  in  running  the  boundary,  that  all 
our  just  rights  under  the  treaty  shall  be  maintained.  Your  first  duty 
-will  be  to  run  and  mark  that  part  of  the  boundary  consisting  of  a  straight 
line  from  a  " point  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  distant  one  marine 
league  due  south  of  the  southernmost  point  of  the  port  of  San  Diego/r 
to  "  the  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado." 

It  is  not  apprehended  that  you  will  encounter  much  difficulty  in  deter- 
mining either  of  these  points.  This  southernmost  point  of  the  port  of 
San  Diego  is  to  be  ascertained  by  the  treaty  "according  to  the  plan  of 
said  port  made  in  the  year  1782  by  Don  Juan  Pantoja,  second  sailing- 
master  of  j;he  Spanish  fleet,  and  published  at  Madrid  in  the  year  1802, 
on  the  atlas  of  the  voyage  of  the  schooners  Sutcl  and  Mex-icawi,  of  which 
plan  a  copy  is  herewith  added,  signed  and  sealed  by  the  respective  pleni- 
potentiaries." You  are  furnished  with  a  certified  copy  of  this  plan, 
which  appears  to  fix  precisely  what  is  the  southern  limit  of  the  port  of 
San  Diego;  and  a  point  on  the  Pacific  "  one  marine  league  south  of  this 
is  the  place  of  beginning." 

The  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado,  being  a 
natural  object,  there  can  be  but  little  difficulty  in  ascertaining  this  point. 
The  duties  of  the  surveyor  are  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  treaty  itself. 

Those  of  Major  William  H.  Emory,  the  chief  astronomer,  will  be  to 
determine  all  astronomical  points,  arid  to  direct  the  mode  of  running  all 
astronomical  lines  on  the  boundary. 

Lieutenant  J.  W.  Whipple,  arid  Brevet  Captian  E.  L.  F.  Hardcastle,of 
the  corps  of  topographical  engineers,  have  been  designated,  under  the 
authority  of  the  President,  to  accompany  Major  Emory,  as  his  assistants, 
•  The  remainder  of  the  boundary  runs  along  the  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila 
and  the  Rio  Grande,  with  the  exception  of  that  portion  of  it  between 
"  the  point  where  the  Rio  Grande  strikes  the  southern  boundary  of  JNew 
Mexico;  thence  westwardly  along  the  whole  southern  boundary  of  New 
Mexico,  (which  runs  north  of  the  town  called  Paso,)  to  its  northern  termi- 
nation; thence  northward,  along  the  western  line  of  New  Mexico,  until 
it  intersects  the  first  branch  of  the  Rio  Gila,  (or,  if  it  should  not  intersect 
any  branch  of  that  river,  then  to  the  point  on  the  said  line  nearest  to  such 
branch,  and  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  same.")  In  regard  to  this  lat- 
ter portion  of  the  line  it  is  impossible  to  give  you  specific  instructions, 
for  the  want  of  accurate  geographical  information.  It  can  only  be  ascer- 
tained by  examinations  and  surveys  upon  the  ground.  Besides,  the 
treaty  itself  declares  that  the  "  southern  and  western  limits  of  New  Mex- 
ico mentioned  in  this  article  are  those  laid  down  in  the  map"  of  the  United 
Mexican  States  published  at  New  York,  in  1847,  by  J.  DisturnelJ  of 


5  [34] 

which  a  copy  was  added  to  the  treaty,  bearing  the  signatures  and  seals  of 
the  plenipotentiaries.  You  are  now  furnished  with,  a  certified  copy  of 
this  map. 

You  are  also  furnished,  as  bearing  upon  this  subject,  with  the  copy  of 
a  map  of  New  Mexico  which  was  attached  to  the  atlas  to  Thompson's 
edition  of  the  Geographical  and  Historical  Dictionary  of  America  and  of 
the  West  Indies,  by  Colonel  Don  Antonio  de  Alcedo,  published  at  Lon- 
don, in  1812 — a  work  of  the  highest  authority. 

My  successor  in  office  will  most  probably  obtain  farther  information  in 
regard  to  this  portion  of  the  line,  and,  as  the  work  progresses,  will  doubt- 
less deem  it  proper  to  give  you  further  instructions.  I  deem  it  unneces- 
sary, therefore,  to  say  more  at  present  on  this  subject.  I  need  scarcely 
add  that  the  President  expects  you  will  perform  your  duties  under  the 
treaty  with  as  little  delay  as  practicable,  consistently  with  accuracy. 

As  it  is  indispensable  that  each  government  should  be  furnished  with  a 
full  and  circumstantial  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  commissioners, 
they  will  doubtless  order  such  record  to  be  kept  in  duplicate.  This  duty 
will  naturally  devolve  upon  the  clerks  appointed  on  both  sides,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  respective  commissioners,  who  will  be  responsible  for  the 
accuracy  of  such  records,  and  for  their  safe  delivery,  properly  certified, 
to  the  respective  governments,  at  the  expiration  of  the  commission.  You 
will,  with  that  view,  provide  the  clerk  appointed  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States  with  suitable  instructions  respecting  this  and  any  other  duty  which 
it  shall  be  deemed  proper  to  assign  to  him. 

As  soon  as  the  boundary  shall  have  been  ascertained  and  marked,  you 
will  cause  a  true  and  accurate  map  to  be  made  of  the  country  through 
which  it  passes,  in  its  entire  extent.  A  duplicate  copy  of  said  map,  certi- 
fied by  the  commissioners  and  surveyors  on  both  sides,  will  accompany 
the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  commission. 

The  joint  report  or  declaration  by  the  commissioners  of  "  the  final  re- 
sult agreed  upon  by  them,"  under  the  fifth  article  of  the  treaty,  will  also 
be  transmitted  to  the  Department,  to  be  filed  with  the  journal  or  record 
of  their  proceedings  and  the  map. 

As  soon  as  the  commission  shall  be  organized,  you  will  transmit  to  this 
department  a  list  containing  the  names  of  the  several  persons  composing 
it,  the  nature  of  the  duties  assigned  to  each  individual,  and  the  compen- 
sation allowed  to  them  respectively;  and  will  also  from  time  to  time  in- 
form the  Secretary  of  State  of  any  change  which  you  may,  by  circum- 
stances, be  induced  to  make  in  its  organization.  The  sixth  article  of  the 
treaty  provides  that  "if,  by  the  examinations  which  may  be  made,  it 
should  be  ascertained  to  be  practicable  and  advantageous  to  construct  a 
road,  canal,  or  railway,  which  should  in  whole  or  in  part  run  upon  the 
river  Grla,  or  upon  its  right  or  its  left  bank,  within  the  space  of  one  marine 
league  from  either  margin  of  the  river,  the  governments  of  both  republics 
will  form  an  agreement  regarding  its  construction,  in  order  that  it  may 
serve  equally  for  the  use  and  advantage  of  both  countries."  Although 
you  are  not  required  to  make  the  examinations  referred  to  in  this  article 
under  the  appropriation  made  by  Congress  on  the  12th  of  August  last, 
which  is  limited  to  "  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the  boundary 
line,"  yet  the  President  would  be  gratified  if  you  could  cause  these  ex- 
aminations to  be  made  incidentally,  without  seriously  interfering  with 
your  appropriate  duties.  The  inquiry  is  one  of  great  importance  to  the 


[34]  6 

country;  and  any  information  which  you  can  communicate  to  the  depart- 
ment on  the  subject  will  be  highly  appreciated  by  our  fellow-citizens. 
Major  Emory  has  received  from  Major  Graham,  under  my  instructions;  all 
the  instruments  belonging  to  the  department  which  he  believed  to  be 
suitable  for  running  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  republics. 

In  a  report  which  he  made  to  the  department,  dated  at  New  York  on 
the  4th  instant,  he  states  that  these  are  not  sufficient,  and  furnishes  a  list 
of  those  which  will  be  required.  Several  of  the  latter  he  deems  it  indis- 
pensable that  he  should  carry  with  him,  to  wit: 

1  box  chronometer $285 

1  heliotrope 100 

1  reconnoitring  glass 50 

1  portable  astronomical  telescope 190 

4  Nautical  Almancs,  1849 10 

1  copy  Catalogue  Stars,  British  Association 20 

1  set  of  charts  coast  of  California 2 

1  Daniels's  hygrometer 15 

4  Hassler's  Logarithms,  at  $1 4 

6  thermometers,  at  $4 24 

6  observing  lamps 15 

4  cases  drawing  instruments 40 

4  bottles  ether  (sulphuric.) 

^  bushel  plaster  of  paris. 

2  observing  tents,  at  $40 80 

1  equatorial  stand,  price  estimated 100 

In  your  absence,  the  President  has  not  hesitated  to  advise  him  to  pur- 
chase these  instruments,  not  doubting  that  you  would  promptly  pay  for 
them  out  of  the  appropriation.  As  it  Avill  be  impossible  for  him  to  reach 
New  Orleans  before  the  28th  instant,  you  will  not  take  your  departure 
thence  until  after  his  arrival. 

The  President  has  determined  that  your  salary  shall  be  at  the  rate  of 
$- per  annum,  and  that  of  the  surveyor  at  the  rate  of  $ per  an- 
num; but  should  Congress  before  its  adjournment  fix  your  salaries  at 
different  rates,  this  will  be  the  guide  in  settling  your  accounts  from  the 
beginning. 

The  military  escort,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  to  accompany  the 
commission,  has  been  placed  by  the  President  under  the  direction  of  the 
Secretary  of  War. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER,  Esq. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  March  15,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  to  inform  you  that  Congress,  at  its  late  session,  omitted  to 
pass  any  act  prescribing  the  amounts  of  the  salaries  of  the  civilians  attached 
to  the  commission  of  which  you  are  the  head.  Consequently,  until  this 
omission  be  remedied,  compensation  for  your  services  as  commissioner, 
^  for  those  of  Mr.  Gray  as  surveyor,  cannot  be  lawfully  paid;  and  no 


7  [34] 

charge  for  salary,  on  the  part  of  either  of  you,  can  properly  form  an  item 
in  the  statement  of  your  account  to  the  Treasury.  It  will,  therefore,  be 
necessary,  in  any  drafts  which  you  may  have  occasion  to  make  on  this 
department  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  your  instructions  into  effect,  to 
make  them,  on  their  face,  chargeable  solely  to  the  appropriation  for  the 
"expense*  of  running  and  marking  the  boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico" — leaving  the  salaries  to  be  settled  at  some  future  day 
by  Congress. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 
JOHN  B.  WELLER,  Esq  , 

Commisiomr  of  the  United  States  under  the 

fifth  article  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo. 


PANAMA,  March  24,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  note  of  this  date,  informing  me  that  a  whaler  would  be  here 
in  about  ten  days  upon  which  I  can  secure  passage  for  my  party,  at  $250 
each,  to  San  Francisco,  has  been  received.  As  I  would  probably  have 
great  difficulty  in  obtaining  transportation  from  thence  to  San  Diego,  the 
point  of  destination,  I  cannot  engage  the  vessel  to  which  you  allude. 

As  my  party  numbers  some  thirty-live  persons,  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  supplies,  I  prefer  obtaining,  if  possible,  transportation  direct  to 
San  Diego.  I  will  be  obliged  to  you  if  you  can  facilitate  my  movements  in 
this  particular.  As  it  is  of  the  last  importance  to  my  government  that  the 
surveyor  and  myself  should  be  at  San  Diego  previous  to  the  30th  of  May 
next,  I  will  thank  you  to  secure  passage  for  us  on  the  first  steamer  which 
may  come  in. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

U.  S.  Commissioner. 
WILLIAM  NELSON,  Esq., 

United  States  Consul. 


PANAMA,  March  27,  1849. 

SIR:  On  the  16th  January  last,  I  was  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  with  the  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  run  the  boundary  be- 
tween that  government  and  the  republic  of  Mexico,  under  the  fifth  article 
of  the  treaty  concluded  at  Guadalupe  on  the  2d  February,  1848.  By 
the  terms  of  that  treaty,  the  commissioners  are  required  to  meet  at  San 
Diego,  on  the  Pacific,  previous  to  the  30th  May  next,  and,  under  instruc- 
tions to  proceed  to  that  point  without  delay,  I  reached  this  city  on  the  16th 
instant. 

I  have  with  me  a  full  complement  of  engineers  and  employes,  all  of 
whom  are  necessary  to  enable  me  to  execute  the  orders  of  the  government. 
This  party  now  numbers  thirty-three  persons,  and  three  or  four  more  may 
probably  arrive  in  a  few  days.  I  have  made  every  reasonable  effort  to 
secure  transportation  to  San  Diego,  but  thus  far  have  wholly  failed.  You 


[34J 


8 


are  aware  that  the  treaty  under  which  1  am  appointed  terminated  a  bloody 
war;  and  a  failure  to  meet  the  commissioner  on  the  part  of  Mexico  at  the 
time  designated  will  produce  delay,  which  may  result  in  serious  difficulty 
between  the  two  governments. 

The  emigration  to  California  is  increasing  so  rapidly  that  it  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  the  boundary  should  be  established  at  once.  The 
friendly  relations  between  the  two  governments  can  only  be  maintained 
by  clearly  defining  the  rights  of  each.  You  will  see,  upon  reflection, 
that  delays  and  difficulties  of  the  most  harassing  character  will  probably 
result  from  a  failure  on  my  part  to  meet  the  requisitions  of  the  treaty.  A 
steamer  (the  " California")  belonging  to  Messrs.  Aspinwall  &  Co.,  for 
whom,  I  understand,  you  are  agent,  is  expected  here  daily.  This  vessel 
is  connected  with  the  government  of  the  United  States  by  a  contract  to 
transport  the  mail.  I  doubt  not  more  than  a  sufficient  number  to  fill  her  will 
be  here,  on  her  arrival,  holding  tickets  from  the  company.  I  would  regret 
very  much  to  see  those  enterprising  citizens  delayed  or  disappointed;  but 
it  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  case  where  private  interest  should  yield  to  the  pub- 
lic good.  Seeing  no  other  practicable  way  of  getting  to  San  Diego,  I  have 
to  request  that  passages  may  be  secured  for  myself  and  party  as  soon  as  she 
arrives. 

You,  as  the  representative  of  the  United  States  here,  will,  I  doubt  not, 
feel  every  disposition  to  aid  me  in  executing  a  most  important  commission ; 
and  I  am  confident,  from  their  high  reputation,  that  Messrs.  Aspinwall 
&  Co.,  if  they  were  present,  would  not  hesitate  in  directing  room  to  be 
made  for  us. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
United  States  Commissioner. 

WILLIAM  NELSOX, 

United  States  Consul,  Panama. 


PANAMA,  NEW  GRANADA,  May  14,  1849. 

SIR:  As  you  have  advised  me  that  you  cannot  find  transportation  for 
more  than  ten  of  my  party  on  the  steamship  "Panama,"  I  desire  that  the 
following  persons  may  be  registered  as  passengers: 

John  B.  Weller,  Dr.  E.  K.  Chamberlin,  James  Nooney,  jr.,  William 
A.  Taylor,  D.  Gahagan,  A.  B.  Gray,  William  R.  Kinder,  H.  H.  Robin- 
son, C.  J.  Whiting,  Gilbert  Murdoch,  and  two  servants,  (colored.) 

So  many  inconveniences  and  delays  will  result  from  leaving  a  portion 
of  my  party  here,  that  I  must  again  request  that  every  effort  maybe  made 
to  secure  transportation  on  the  "Oregon"  for  the  remainder  of  the  party. 
Nearly  if  not  all  the  employes  will  be  required  very  soon  after  I  reach 
San  Diego,  and  I  dislike  the  idea  very  much  of  separating  from  them. 
Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
United  States  Commissioner. 
Captain  STOUT, 

Agent  for  Aspimcatt  cj*  Co. 


9  [31] 

iH*#£»**«*r 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  June  20,  1849. 

SIR:  The  President  having  thought  proper  to  appoint  you  the  commis- 
sioner on  the  part  of  the  United  States  for  running  and  marking  the 
boundary  line  under  the  fifth  article  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo, 
I  transmit  your  commission  in  that  character.  You  will  also  receive 
herewith  a  copy  of  the  several  instructions  which  this  department  has 
addressed  to  your  predecessor.  It  is  not  considered  that  you  will  need 
any  further  instructions  at  this  time;  I  would,  however,  invite  your  special 
attention  to  the  necessity  of  the  regular  transmission  of  your  accounts 
and  vouchers  for  settlement  at  the  Treasury  Department,  as  those  in- 
structions require.  Any  drafts,  also,  which  you  may  have  occasion  to 
draw  on  account  of  the  expenses  of  the  commission,  must  be  addressed  to 
the  Secretary  of  State,  and  not  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

You  will  also  forward  to  this  department  a  full  list  of  the  pers  ns  (other 
than  military  or  naval)  in  the  service  of  the  commission  on  our  part,  with 
the  rates  of  compensation  allowed  to  each;  and  will  apprize  the  depart- 
ment of  any  changes  therein  which  may  from  time  to  time  take  place. 

Your  compensation,  as  well  as  that  of  your  predecessor,  will  be  settled 
by  Congress  at  their  next  session. 

1  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

To  J.  C.  FREMONT,  Esq., 

San  Francisco ,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  June  26,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  letter  from  Panama,  under  date  the  20th  March  last,  marked 
No.  1,  has  been  received. 

Il>  is  to  be  regretted  that  you  should  have  omitted  to  comply  with  that 
part  of  your  instructions  which  requires  you  to  furnish  the  department 
with  a  list  of  the  persons  employed  to  assist  you  in  the  discharge  of  your 
duties.  In  the  absence  of  such  a  list,  and  of  a  statement  of  the  compen- 
sation stipulated  to  be  allowed  to  each  person,  it  is  impossible  for  the  de- 
partment to  form  an  estimate  of  the  probable  expenses  of  the  commission. 

Your  instructions  also  direct  you  to  transmit  your  account  of  those  ex- 
penses at  the  close  of  every  quarter,  with  the  vouchers  requisite  for  ad- 
justment of  the  account  at  the  Treasury.  The  first  quarter,  since  your 
appointment,  expired  on  the  3Ist  of  March  last;  but,  although  large  sums 
had  been  advanced  to  you  previously  to  that  time,  no  account  or  vouchers 
in  support  thereof  have  yet  been  received  from  you.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  department  has  deemed  it  necessary  to  suspend  the  payment 
of  your  drafts,  of  which  a  memorandum  is  subjoined. 

The  President  having  thought  proper  to  appoint  Mr.  J.  C.  Fremont  the 
commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  to  run  and  mark  the 
boundary  line  under  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  you  will  transfer 
to  him  all  the  papers  arid  other  public  property  in  your  custody  relating  to 
the  duties  of  that  office. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

To  JOHN  B.  WELLER,  Esq. 


[34] 


10 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  June  28,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  letter  from  Panama  of  the  loth  ultimo,  with  the  accompanying 
lists  of  persons  in  the  service  of  the  commission,  was  received  at-  this 
department  on  yesterday,  the  27th  instant. 

The  difficulties  which  you  anticipate  in  regard  to  the  running  and 
marking  the  boundary  line  from  the  Pacific  towards  the  Rio  Grande  may 
be  realized;  but,  without  actual  experience  of  them,  it  would  be  prema- 
ture even  to  take  into  consideration  your  suggestion  as  to  reversing  that 
course  and  beginning  the  demarcation  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  line.  In- 
asmuch, however,  as  the  starting-point  for  tracing  the  boundary,  as  well 
as  the  proceedings  of  the  joint  commission  with  reference  thereto,  are 
prescribed  by  the  treaty,  it  would  seem  that  the  Executive  of  neither  gov- 
ernment has  any  discretion  in  regard  to  them,  or  any  more  right  to  change 
them  than  they  would  have  to  change  the  direction  of  the  line  itself.  If 
it  should  be  found  to  be  impracticable  to  execute  the  duties  of  the  com- 
mission as  the  treaty  contemplates  and  enjoins,  a  supplementary  article 
will  be  necessary  to  impart  validity  to  any  deviations  therefrom. 

It  may,  as  you  suggest,  be  advisable  occasionally  to  make  presents  to 
the  Indians  who  may  be  met  with  along  the  route  of  the  commission. 
Careful  discrimination,  however,  will  be  necessary  in  selecting  articles 
for  this  purpose.  They  should  be  acceptable  to  the  Indians,  but  not  such 
as  would  enable  them  to  injure  the  commission,  in  case  their  permanent 
good  will  should  not  be  secured.  The  cost  of  the  presents,  also,  should 
be  moderate,  and  our  share  thereof  should  bear  a  just  proportion  to  the 
fund  appropriated  by  Congress  for  the  expenses  of  the  commission. 

Upon  this  subject,  however,  -you  had  better  consult  and  make  some 
arrangement  with  the  Mexican  commissioners.  If  presents  should  be  in- 
dispensable, they  would  be  for  the  common  benefit  of  both  parties,  and 
both  should  equally  share  the  expense. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

JOHN  B.  WELLER,  Esq. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  June  28, 1849. 

SIR:  In  a  letter  from  this  department  under  date  the  26th  instant,  you 
were  informed  of  your  appointment  as  commissioner  of  the  United  States 
under  the  5th  article  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo.  With  that 
letter,  one  addressed  to  your  predecessor  was  also  transmitted,  which, 
however,  it  is  deemed  advisable  you  should  not  deliver  or  forward  to  him 
until  you  are  about  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  office.  The  letter  for 
him  which  is  herewith  transmitted  you  will  consider  as  addressed  to 
yourself,  when  you  shall  have  communicated  to  him  that  above  referred  to. 
I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 
J.  C.  FREMONT,  Esq. 


II  [34] 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  July  20,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  this  morning,  and  have  to  inform 
you  in  reply  that,  by  the  act  of  2Sth  August  last,  a  sum  of  $50,000  was 
appropriated  "  for  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the  boundary  line 
between  Mexico  and  the  United  States,  and  paying  the  salaries  of  the 
officers  of  the  commission;"  that  of  this  sum  commissioner  Weller  has 
received,  in  a  payment  in  advance  and  accepted  drafts  drawn  on  the  De- 
partment of  State $33,325  00 

That  vouchers  in  support  of  his  disbursements  have  been  re- 
ceived, but  have  not  yet  been  passed  by  the  Fifth  Auditor, 
for. .  " 24,849  32 


Leaving  overpaid  and  wholly  unaccounted  for  a  balance  of.  . .   $8,475  68 

You  will  perceive  from  this  statement  that  the  whole  sum  appropriated 
for  the  service  of  the  current  year  was  $50,000,  and  that  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  this  amount  has  already  been  drawn  by  the  commissioner,  before 
and  since  his  removal  from  office.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  de- 
partment must  decline  to  pay  any  farther  drafts  of  Mr.  Weller,  until  his 
vouchers  have  been  received  and  his  accounts  adjusted  at  the  proper  office 
of  the  Treasury. 

I  have  only  to  state,  with  reference  to  your  bill  for  travelling  expenses 
as  bearer  of  despatches  from  Panama  to  Washington,  that  it  is  inadmissi- 
ble, and  cannot  be  allowed.  Your  employment  in  that  character  was 
neither  warranted  by  the  instructions  of  Mr.  Buchanan  to  the  commis- 
sioner, nor  by  the  usages  of  the  department  in  such  cases. 
I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

C.  L.  WELLER,  Esq., 

Washington,  D.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  November  21,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  15th  of  September  last  has  been  received.  I 
learn  from  it  with  regret  that  you  wish  to  be  relieved  from  your  duties  as 
astronomer  and  topographical  engineer  in  connexion  with  the  commis- 
sion on  the  part  of  the  United  States  for  marking  the  boundary  pursuant 
to  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo.  Your  claims  and  peculiar  aptitude 
for  that  service  were  so  generally  acknowledged  that  there  was  every 
reason  to  hope  you  might  not  be  severed  from  the  commission  until  the 
close  of  the  business  confided  to  it.  Entertaining  no  doubt,  however, 
that  the  reasons  to  which  you  allude  are  sound,  and  that  the  public  will 
derive  advantage  from  your  employment  in  any  other  professional  duty 
which  may  be  assigned  to  you,  your  request  is  acceded  to;  and  in  a  letter 
of  this  date  I  have  requested  the  Secretary  of  War  to  designate  your  suc- 
cessor. 

In  regard  to  the  civil  assistants  to  whom  you  refer,  it  is  presumed  that 


[  34  ]  12 

it  would  be  best  for  them  to  remain,  with  a  view  to  aid  your  successor  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  CLAYTON. 
Brevet  Major  W.  H.  EMORY, 

Topographical  Engineers,  San  Diego,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  November  28,  1849. 

SIR:  The  letter  addressed  to  you  by  this  department  under  date  of  the 
2 1st  instant  has  been  detained  for  the  purpose  of  being  sent  by  the  officer 
whom  the  Secretary  of  War  might  appoint  as  your  successor.  It  appears, 
however,  from  the  communication  of  Mr.  Crawford  of  this  date,  a  copy 
of  which  is  enclosed,  that  the  order  for  your  relief  which  had  been  re- 
quested of  him  would  be  so  greatly  inconvenient  to  the  military  service 
that  he  deems  himself  constrained  to  deny  the  request. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  hoped  that  you  will  continue  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  commander  to  the  escort,  and  chief  astronomer  to 
the  commission,  with  the  same  fidelity  and  ability  by  which  you  have 
attained  your  high  professional  and  personal  character. 

1  am,  sir,  veiy  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  M.  CLAYTON. 

Brevet  Major  W.  H.  EMORY, 

Topographical  Engineers,  San  Diego,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  10,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communica- 
tion of  the  7th  instant,  with  the  accompanying  documents,  therein  enu- 
merated. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  &c., 

T.  EW1NG,  Secretary. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON,, 

Secretary  of  State. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

December  13,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  since  my  letter  of  the  28th 
ultimo,  it  has  been  determined  to  relieve  Brevet  Major  Emory  from  duty 
with  the  boundary  commission  in  California,  as  soon  as  he  shall  have 
completed  his  calculations  of  the  survey  of  the  line  between  the  Pacific 
and  the  junction  of  the  Colorado  and  Gila  rivers,  so  as  to  obtain  the  action 
of  the  commission  thereon. 

Orders  have  been  given  to  this  effect.  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mc- 
Clellari,  of  the  topographical  engineers,  who  has  been  directed  to  replace 


13  [34] 

Major  Emory,  is  now  in  the  city,  and  will  be  required  to  wait  upon  you 
for  such  further  instructions  as  you  may  have  to  give. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  W.  CRAWFORD, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


BUREAU  OF  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS, 

Washington ,  December  14,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  of  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  orders  to  Brevet 
Lieutenant  Colonel  McClellan,  who  has  been  directed  to  relieve  Major 
Emory  upon  the  Mexican  boundary  survey. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  McClellan  will  report  himself  to  you  for  any  di- 
rections or  instructions  which  you  may  think  proper  to  give. 
Respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  ABERT, 

Colonel  Corps  Topographical  Engineers. 
Hon.  J.  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  Department  of  State,  Washington. 


BUREAU  OF  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS, 

Washington.,  December  14,  1849. 

SIR:  By  direction  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  you  are  hereby 
assigned  to  the  duty  of  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line  between  Mexico 
and  the  United  States,  from  which  duty,  on  your  joining  the  command, 
Major  Emory  will  be  relieved. 

You  will  therefore  repair  to  San  Diego,  California,  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable, and,  learning  at  that  place  the  station  of  Major  Emory,  which  will 
probably  be  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  you  will  repair  thither  and  report 
yourself  to  the  American  commissioner  as  the  chief  officer  of  the  corps  on 
the  duty.  Lieutenants  Whipple  and  Hardcastle,  now  on  the  duty  with 
Major  Emory,  will  remain  on  the  duty  under  your  command. 

Before  moving  under  this  order,  you  will  call  upon  the  Honorable  Mr. 
Clayton,  Secretary  of  State,  and  obtain  from  him  copies  of  such  instruc- 
tions as  Major  Emory  has  received;  and  you  will  also  receive  from 
him  such  additional  instructions  as  he  may  think  proper  to  give. 

You  will  not  omit  the  monthly  reports  to  this  office  required  by  the 
regulations. 

Respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  ABERT, 
Colonel  Corps  Tographical  Engineers. 

Lieut.  Colonel  J.  MCCLELLAN, 

Corps  Topographical  Engineers,  Washington. 


[34]  14 

BUREAU  OF  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS, 

Washington,  December  15,  1849. 

SIR:  Not  being  at  the  time  aware  that  the  business  of  the  survey  of  the 
Mexican  boundary  had  been  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  McClellan,  who  is  ordered  to  relieve  Major  Emory  on 
that  duty,  was  directed  to  report  for  instructions  to  the  State  Department. 
This  error  having  been  corrected,  Lieutenant  Colonel  McClellan  is  now 
directed  to  report  to  you  for  any  instructions  you  may  desire  to  give. 
Copies  of  the  letters  from  this  office  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  McClellan  are 
respectfully  enclosed,  for  your  consideration. 

Respectfully;  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  ABKRT, 

Colonel  Corps  Topographical  Engineers. 
Hon.  T.  EWING, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Washington. 


BUREAU  OF  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS, 

Washington,  December  15,  1849. 

SIR:  By  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  Mr.  Clayton,  Secretary  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  State,  it  appears  that  the  "business  connected  with  the  commis- 
sion referred  to  (Mexican  boundary  survey)  has,  by  the  President's  order, 
been  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior. ' '  You  will  please,  there- 
fore, call  upon  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ewing,  Secretary  of  that  Department,  in 
reference  to  any  instructions,  as  indicated  in  the  letter  to  you  from  this 
bureau  of  the  14th  instant. 

Respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  ABERT, 

Colonel  Corps  Topographical  Engineers. 
Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  MCCLELLAN, 

Corps  Topographical  Engineers,  Washington. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  17,  1849. 

SIR:  In  a  communication  from  yourself  to  Colonel  John  B.  Weller, 
United  States  commissioner,  under  date  of  June  28,  1849,  reference  is 
made  to  a  letter  from  said  commissioner,  dated  at  Panama,  May  15, 1849, 
and  received  at  your  department  June  27,  1849.  As  no  such  letter  appears 
among  the  papers  transferred  by  you  to  this  department,  I  have  to  request 
that  you  will  transmit  the  same  to  me  at  your  earliest  convenience. 
Very  respectfully,  &c., 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON,  Secretary  of  State. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
Washington,  December  18,  1849. 

SIR:  I  transmit  herewith  a  letter  from  Mr.  C.  L.  Weller,  under  date  of 


15  [34] 

the  loth  instant,  and  await  your  directions  respecting  the  requests  therein 
preferred . 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 
Hon.  T.  EAVING, 

Secretary  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  Washington. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  19,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  enclosed  duplicate  of  a 
communication  to  the  Hon.  John  B.  Weller;  and  to  request  that,  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  same,  you  will  at  once  receive  and  take 
care  of  all  the  books,  papers,  and  other  property  which  he  is  therein 
directed  to  turn  over  to  you. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Major  WM.  H.  EMORY,  San  Diego,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  19,  1849. 

SIR:  The  direction  of  the  commission  for  running  and  marking  the 
boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  having  been  trans- 
ferred to  this  department,  I  have  to  inform  you,  in  case,  on  the  receipt 
of  this,  Colonel  Fremont  shall  not  have  entered  upon  duty  as  your  suc- 
cessor, that  your  services  are  no  longer  required  in  said  commission ;  and 
to  request  that  you  will  immediately  turn  over  to  Major  W.  H.  Emory 
all  the  books,  papers,  and  other  property  in  your  possession  belonging  to 
the  United  States,  and  pertaining  to  the  boundary  service,  for  which  you 
will  take  receipt  in  duplicate — the  one  to  be  forwarded  to  this  department, 
and  the  other  to  be  preserved  by  yourself. 

You  were  advised  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  under  date  of  the  26th  of 
June  last,  that,  on  account  of  your  failure  to  comply  with  your  instruc- 
tions to  render  to  the  Fifth  Auditor  quarterly  accounts  of  your  expendi- 
tures, with  the  necessary  vouchers,  payment  of  your  drafts  was  sus- 
pended. 

As  this  barrier  to  payment  still  exists,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to 
the  importance  of  an  early  adjustment  of  your  accounts. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c., 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER,  San  Diego,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  20,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  communication  of  the  15th,  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  has  been  transmitted  to  this  department  for  answer. 


[  34  ]  16 

You  were  advised  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  under  date  of  July  20, 
1849,  that  the  payment  of  the  drafts  of  John  B.  Weller,  United  States 
commissioner,  had  been  suspended;  and  I  need  only  to  remark,  that  the 
reasons  which  induced  that  suspension,  and  which  were  set  forth  to  you, 
still  exist  in  full  force. 

As  to  your  application  for  pay  on  account  of  your  salary  as  a  subaltern 
in  the  commission,  I  have  to  state  that  it  should  be  made  to  the  commis- 
sioner, he  being  charged  with  the  disbursement  of  the  appropriation  made 
by  Congress  for  the  boundary  service. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
C.  L.  WELLER,  Esq., 

Present. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  28,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  received  your  communication  of  the  24th  instant,  and  have 
to  state,  in  reply,  that  in  the  official  instructions  given  by  the  Department 
of  State  to  commissioner  Weller,  under  date  of  January  24,  1849,  he  was 
required  to  keep  a  regular  account  of  the  expenses  of  the  commission,  and 
to  render  and  transmit  the  same  quarterly,  with  the  necessary  vouchers, 
to  the  Fifth  Auditor  for  settlement. 

The  amount  received  by  Mr.  Weller  prior  to  July  20,  1849,  in 
a  payment  in  advance  and  accepted  drafts  drawn  on  the 

Department  of  State,  was $33,325  00 

Vouchers  in  support  of  his  disbursements  had  been  received 
(only  a  part  of  which  have  been  passed  by  the  Fifth  Auditor) 
for 24,849  32 


Leaving  overpaid  and  wholly  unaccounted  for  a  balance  of. . .      8,475  68 


Under  these  circumstances,  you  were  apprized,  July  20,  1849,  that  fur- 
ther payment  of  Mr.  Weller's  drafts  would  be  refused,  until  his  vouchers 
were  received  and  his  accounts  adjusted  at  the  proper  office  of  the 
Treasury. 

As  no  additional  vouchers  or  accounts  have  yet  been  received  from  him, 
I  must  still  decline  to  make  additional  payments. 

I  desire,  however,  to  express  the  hope  that  Mr.  Weller  will,  by  an  early 
settlement,  enable  the  department  to  meet  all  the  lawful  expenses  of  the 
commission. 

It  is  understood  that  you  consider  yourself  officially  connected  with  the 
commission,  under  an  appointment  from  the  late  commissioner;  but  the 
department  being  unable  to  perceive  that  you  have  rendered  or  can  render 
any  aid  in  the  execution  of  the  duty  required  of  that  by  a  protracted  resi- 
dence in  this  city,  your  sendees  will  be  no  further  required  therein. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 

C.  L.  WELLER,  Esq., 

Present. 


17  [  34  ] 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  28,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  to  request  that  you  will,  at  your'earliest  convenience,  fur- 
nish me  with  a  statement  of  the  amount  of  money  paid  to  commissioner 
AYeller,  the  whole  amount  of  vouchers  filed  in  support  of  his  disburse- 
ments, and  the  amount  of  those  vouchers  which  have  been  rejected,  with 
the  reasons  for  their  rejection. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
STEPHEN  PLEASANTON,  Esq., 

Fifth  Auditor  of  the  Treasury. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  December  31,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  received  your  favor  of  this  date,  with  the  accompanying 
letter  from  Mr.  Asa  France,  and  have  the  honor  to  state,  in  reply,  that  no 
vouchers  or  accounts  have  been  received  from  John  B.  Weller,  late  Uni- 
ted States  commissioner,  since  July  last,  and  that  payment  of  his  drafts 
has  therefore  not  been  resumed. 

In  compliance  with  your  request,  I  herewith  return  to  you  Mr.  France's 
letter. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Hon.  CULLEN  SAWTELLE, 

House  of  Representatives. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington ,  January  8, 1850. 

SIR:  Mr.  John  B.  Weller  having  been  relieved  from  duty  as  head  of  the 
commission  to  survey  the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mex- 
ico, and  the  direction  of  said  commission  having  therefore  fallen  temporarily 
on  you,  I  have  to  request  that  the  persons  employed  on  the  work  may  be 
reduced  to  the  lowest  number  consistent  with  the  proper,  though  econo- 
mical, management  of  the  business  confided  to  you,  by  the  discharge  of 
all  such  as  are  not  indispensable  to  the  proper  performance  of  the  work, 
and  whose  services  can  therefore  be  dispensed  with  without  detriment. 

The  number  of  surveyors  ought  not  to  exceed  three ;  and  in  red-ucing 
your  force,  you  will  have  a  view  to  the  suggestions  of  Col.  Abert  to  Lieut. 
Col.  McClellan,  a  copy  of  which  is  enclosed. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Maj.  WM.  H.  EMORY,  San  Diego,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  January  9,  1850. 

SIR:  I  have  to  request  that  you  will,  as  early  as  may  be  practicable, 
furnish  this  department  a  statement,  showing — 

1st.  The  names  of  all  persons  employed  by  the  late  commissioner,  Mr. 
Ex. — 2 


[34] 


18 


Welter,  on  the  Mexican  boundary,   their  compensation  and  duties  re- 
spectively. 

2d.  The  names  of  all  such  as  you  may  discharge  in  pursuance  of  my 
letter  of  yesterday,  their  compensation  and  duties. 

3d.  The  names,  compensation,  and  duties  of  all  persons  who  may  com- 
pose the  commission  after  its  reduction  by  you. 

You  will  also  keep  the  department  advised  of  whatever  changes  may 
from  time  to  time  be  made. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Maj.  WM.  H.  EMORY, 

San  Diego ,  California. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  January  22,  1850. 

SIR:  For  the  better  prosecution  of  the  work  of  running  and  marking 
the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  I  have  the 
honor  to  request  that  you  will  detail  for  that  service  Lieut.  Beale,  of  the 
navy,  whose  familiarity  with  the  country  to  be  traversed  will  much  facil- 
itate the  operations  of  the  military  and  civil  officers  of  the  government 
now  engaged  upon  the  work. 

If  it  is  in  your  power  to  comply  with  this  request,  I  will  thank  you  to 
direct  Lieut.  Beale  to  report  to  this  department. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWING,  Secretary. 
Hon.  WILLIAM  BALLARD  PRESTON, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  January  29,  1850. 

SIR:  Lieut.  Beale  is  very  desirous  to  go  upon  the  duty  for  which  you 
have  detailed  Lieut.  Strain.  The  latter  suggested  to  me  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  stand  in  the  way  of  his  friend  Lieut.  Beale.  I  enclose  a  letter 
from  Col.  Benton  on  the  same  subject  for  your  perusal,  which  you  will 
return.  I  submit  the  matter  entirely  to  your  judgment,  not  wishing  at  all 
to  interfere  in  the  selection,  and  being  satisfied  that  you  have  furnished  me 
an  officer  efficient  to  discharge  the  duties  for  which  he  is  detailed.  I 
bring  the  subject  to  your  notice  at  the  request  of  Col.  McClellan. 
I  am,  very  truly,  yours, 

T.  EWING. 
Hon.  Mr.  PRESTON, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  January  24,  1850. 
SIR:  Will  you  do  me  the  favor  to  inform  me  of  the  name  of  the  officer 


19  [  34  ] 

for  service  on  the  Mexican  boundary  commission;  in  compliance 
with  the  request  contained  in  my  letter  of  the  22d  inst. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EW1NG?  Secretary. 
Hon.  WM,  B.  PRESTON, 

Secretary  <of  the  Navy. 


DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  INTERIOR, 

January  25-,  1850. 

Snr.  In  the  correspondence  relating  to  the.  Mexican  boundary,  it  ap- 
pears that  $33,325  has  been  pa£d  on  the  drafts  of  the  United  States  com- 
missioner. Will  you  oblige  me-,  as  soon  as  practicable,  with  a  statement 
showing  the  p(ace  where  each  draft  was  drawn,  the  date,  payee,  and 
amount? 

It  also  appears  that  the  amount  of  vouchers  filed  by  said  commissioner 
is  $24,849  32,  and  that  only  a  part  of  these  vouchers  have  been  passed  at 
your  office.     Will  you  please  inform  me  what  portion  of  them  have  not 
been  passed,  and  state  the  reasons  which  induced  their  suspension? 
Very  respectfully,  &c., 

D.  C.  GODDARD,  Chief  Clerk. 
STEPHEN  PLEASANTON,  Esq., 

Fifth  Auditor  of  the  Treasury^ 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  January  30,  1850. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  this  date  is  received.  Your  request  for  permission 
to  proceed  to  Philadelphia  is  complied  with  5  and  further  orders  will  be 
directed  to  you  at  that  place. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EWLNG,    Secretary. 
Passed  Midshipman  ISAAC  G.  STRAIN, 

United  States  A««?y,,  Washington  <city^  D*  C. 


BUREAU  OP  TOPOGRAPHICAL  ENGINEERS, 

Washington^  February  9,  1850. 

SIR:  In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  25th  January,  desiring  to  have  an 
estimate  of  the  probable  expense  for  the  next  fiscal  year  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  survey  of  the  boundary  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States, 
I  have  the  honor  to  stale  that,  having  no  knowledge  whatever  of  the  exist- 
ing arrangements  of  the  survey,  the  business  having  been  conducted  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Slate  Department,  I  do  not  possess  any  of  the  data 
upon  which  an  estimate  would  have  to  be  founded. 

1st*  I  do  not  know  what  property  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  com- 
mission, or  the  condition  of  the  property,  and  cannot  state  what  addi- 
tions or  renewals  will  be  required. 

2d,  Nothing  is  known  in  this  office  of  the  compensation  paid  to  persons 
employed,  or  of  their  numbers* 


[34] 


20 


3d.  Nothing  is  known  in  this  office  of  the  number  of  horses  of  wagons 
used  or  required. 

4th.  Nothing  is  known  in  this  office  of  the  cost  of  foraging  animals  or 
of  feeding  men  on  the  duty. 

5th.  Nothing  is  known  in  this  office  of  the  amount  of  existing  deb8sr 
and,  consequently,  of  the  portion  of  any  future  appropriation  which  will 
have  to  be  applied  to  arrearages. 

As  an  estimate  cannot  therefore  be  made  according  to  usual  forms,  it  is 
respectfully  suggested  to  ask  for  an  appropriation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars 
for  the  duty. 

In  reference  to  that  part  of  your  letter  desiring  information  of  the  number 
of  persons  which  such  a  duty  will  require,  allow  me  respectfully  to  refer  to 
a  memorandum  submitted  to  your  consideration  a  few  days  since  through 
Colonel  McClellan. 

Respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  ABERT, 

Colonel  Corps  Tographical  Engineers, 
Hon.  T.  EWING, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Washington. 


WASHINGTON,  January  3,  184£. 

SIR:  I  think  it  proper  that  you  should  be  informed  that  a  very  consider- 
able portion  of  the  most  valuable  instruments  used  on  the  northeastern 
boundary  survey,  and  now  in  possession  of  Major  J.  D.  Graham,  do  not 
belong  to  the  Department  of  State,  and  that  it  is  exceedingly  probable 
that,  under  arrangements  in  progress,  they  will  be  needed  by  the  Topo- 
graphical Bureau  for  other  surveys,  and  I  think  it  will  not  be  practicable 
for  the  State  Department,  without  inconvenience  to  other  branches  of  the 
public  service,  to  obtain  the  use  of  them. 

The  instruments  that  do  belong  to  the  State  Department  are  insufficient 
in  number,  and  many  of  them  not  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  service  to 
which  they  are  to  be  applied — the  survey  of  the  boundary  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico. 

Army  order  No.  65  assigns  me  to  the  command  of  the  party  to  be  de- 
tailed from  the  army  to  run  that  boundary.  Under  that  order  I  had  the 
honor  to  report  to  you  in  person,  the  day  following  the  date  of  that  order. 

I  then  stated  my  impression  that  immediate  steps  should  be  taken  to  see 
that  proper  instruments  were  procured  for  the  survey.  A  more  exact 
knowledge,  subsequently  derived  from  Major  Graham,  of  the  number  and 
condition  of  the  instruments  which  he  designs  to  turn  over  to  the  depart- 
ment, makes  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  that,  unless  immediate  steps  are 
taken,  it  is  probable  the  instruments  cannot  be  had,  in  order  to  enable  the 
commission  to  meet  agreeably  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty. 

I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  suggest  that,  as  I  am  already  assigned  to  duty 
under  your  orders,  such  of  the  instruments  as  may  belong  to  the  State 
Department  may  be  immediately  turned  over  to  me,  that  I  may  proceed  to 
put  them  in  condition  for  service,  to  make  such  alterations  in  them  as 
may  be  required  to  meet  the  peculiarities  of  the  service,  and  to  prepare  the 
information  by  which  you  will  be  enabled  to  supply  the  deficiencies  when 
the  appropriation  for  running  and  marking  the  boundary  becomes  availa- 


21  [34] 

ble.  This  recommendation,  if  adopted,  need  involve  no  immediate 
expenditure.  The  propriety  of  this  work  being  confided  to  the  officer  who 
is  to  use  the  instruments,  I  am  sure,  need  not  be  dwelt  upon.  He  will  be 
held  responsible  for  the  results,  and  should,  therefore,  be  allowed  the 
selection,  within  reasonable  limits,  of  the  means  by  which  he  is  to  attain 
them. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY, 
Brevet  Major  U.  S.  Army. 
Hon.  JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

Secretary  of  State. 


ENGINEER  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington ,  January  10,  1849. 

SIR:  On  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  3d  instant,  asking  for  the  loan  of 
the  zenith  telescope  belonging  to  this  department,  that  had  been  for  some 
time  ift  the  hands  of  Major  Graham,  of  the  typographical  engineers,  I  re- 
ferred it  to  the  superintendent  of  the  military  academy,  requesting  him 
"to  report  forthwith  whether  the  instrument  can  be  spared  from  the  course 
of  instruction  in  the  department  of  philosophy,  Major  Graham  having  noti- 
fied that  it  is  ready,  with  the  other  instrument  loaned  to  him,  to  be  re- 
turned, if  wanted  at  the  academy."  The  superintendent,  in  his  reply, 
just  received,  says,  after  consulting  with  the  professor  of  philosophy ,  "that 
the  particular  instrument  referred  to  by  Major  Emory  would  be  very  use- 
ful in  the  department  of  philosophy.'"*  This  being  the  case,  and  know- 
ing that  the  instrument  was  sent  in  the  first  instance  to  the  academy,  at 
the  request  of  Professor  Bartlett,  for  use  in  practical  instruction  in  astrono- 
my, I  am  under  the  necessity  of  declining  the  proposed  loan. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOS.  G.  TOTTEN, 
Brevet  Brigadier  General  U.  S.  Army. 
Major  W.  H.  EMORY, 

United  States  Army?  Washington. 


WASHINGTON,  January  11,  1849. 

SIR:  As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  the  two  instruments  men- 
tioned in  the  enclosed  letter  of  General  Totten  were  purchased  for  the 
use  of  the  Ohio  and  Michigan  boundary,  in  1835;  but,  the  appropriation 
having  been  expended  under  the  War  Department,  the  instruments  may 
be  considered  as  belonging  to  that  department. 

They  are  both  of  great  value,  and  one  of  them,  the  zenith  telescope, 
was  used  by  me  on  the  northeastern  boundary.  It  will  appear  by  the  letter 
of  General  Totten  that  they  are  now  both  required  in  the  department  to 
which  they  belong. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  regard,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY. 
Hon-  JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

Secretary  of  State. 


[34]  22 

NEW  YOUK,  February  4,  1849, 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  instructions  of  the  Department  of  State,  Jan- 
nary  19,  1849, 1  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  have  received  from  Major 
J.  I).  Graham  such  instruments  as  were  deemed  "  necessary  for  correctly  run- 
ning and  marking  the  boundary  line"  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico.  Two  invoices — one  dated  New  York,  January  29,  1849,  the 
other  dated  Boston,  February  1, 1849 — exhibit  the  character  and  condition 
of  these  instruments,  and  are  herewith  enclosed..  I  have  been  compelled 
to  adopt,  in  a  great  measure,  Major  Graham's  report  of  the  condition 
of  the  instruments,  as  it  would  take  more  time  than  I  am  allowed 
to  set  up  each  instrument  and  examine  it  in  detail.  The  higher  class 
of  astronomical  instruments — such  as  the  Trough  ton  and  Semmes 
telescope,  the  transit,  and  the  altitude  and  azimuth  instrument — though 
admirably  adapted  for  service  on  the  northeastern  boundary,  intersected  as 
that  boundary  was  at  many  points  by  the  great  thoroughfares  of  travel, 
are,  in  consequence  of  their  size,  unsuited  for  general  use  on  the  Mexican 
boundary,  and  can  only  be  used  at  or  near  points  accessible  by  sea — San 
Diego  and  the  mouth  of  the  Del  None.  At  these  points,  however,  they 
can  be  profitably  used.  The  repacking  such  instruments  as  require 
it  and  were  of  convenient  size  to  carry  into  the  interior  on  the  backs 
of  animals,  was  completed  yesterday.  Many  of  these  could  have  been 
rendered  still  more  profitable  by  placing  the  different  parts  of  the  same 
instrument  in  different  boxes;  but  this  is  a  nice  operation,  involving  the 
skill  of  the  best  instrument  makers,  and  would  take  one  or  two  months 
to  complete;  it  has  therefore  not  been  attempted.  The  region  in  which 
we  operate  being  destitute  of  trees  of  sufficient  size  to  afford  stands  for 
the  instruments,  I  have  ordered  castings  to  be  made  for  portable  stands. 
I  have  also  ordered  the  observing  tents  put  in  condition  for  service.  Both 
the  castings  and  fixtures  for  the  tents  will  be  completed  in  the  course  of 
the  week. 

I  now  proceed,  in  further  pursuance  of  your  instructions,  to  " report 
what  other  instruments"  are  deemed  "  necessary  for  the  survey,  together 
with  their  probable  cost,  and  where  they  may  be  obtained  the  most  speed- 
ily  and  upon  the  best  terms*"* 


23 


[34] 


Instruments. 


Price. 


Where  to  be  obtained. 


1  pocket  chronometer* 

1  box  chronometer 

2  heliotropes,  at  $100 

2  reconnoitring  glasses,  at  $50 
1  portable  astronomical  telescope 

4  Nautical  Almanacs,  1849 

4  Nautical  Almanacs,  1850 

1  copy  Catalogue  Stars,  British 

Association 

1  Daniel's  hygrometer 

1  set  charts  coast  of  California 
4  Hassler's  Logarithims,at$l.. 
6  thermometers,  at   $4. . 

2  artificial    horizons,    at    $20, 

(with  boxes  for  mercury) . . 

6  observing  lamps 

1  36-inch  transit 

1  36-inch  zenith  telescope 

4  cases  drawing  instruments,  at 

$10 

4  bottles  of  ether,  (sulphuric.) 
^  bushel  plaster  of  paris. 

2  observing  tents,  at  $40 

1  equatorial   stand 


$200 

285 

200 

100 

190 

10 

10 

20 
15 

2 

4 

24 

40 

15 

400 

700 

40 


80 
100 


Wm.  C.  Bond,  Boston. 
Do  do 

E.  &  G.  W.  Blunt,  New  York, 
Do  do 

Do  do 

Do  do 

Do  do 


Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 


do 
do 
do 
do 
do 


Do  do 

Do  do 

Troughton&  Semmes?London, 
Do  do 


Price  estimated. 


*Mr  Bond  has  one  by  Park  &  Frodsham,  No.  648,  of  tried  excellence. 

NOTE. — Words  included  thus  (     )  are  defaced  in  the  original,  and  are 
here  supplied  from  the  text. 

(If)  an  arrangement  could  be  made  by  which  the  (use)  can  be  ob- 
tained of  the  transit  and  the  zenith  (telescope)  mentioned  in  my  letter  to  you 
of  the  1  st  January,  (the  two  corresponding  instruments  estimated  for  in 
the  (above  list,)  respectively,  at  $400  and  $700,  would  not  (be  needed.) 
These  instruments  are  now  at  the  store  of  Mr.  E.  &  G.  W.  Blunt,  New 
York,  awaiting  transportation  to  West  Point.  The  object  of  sending  these 
instruments  there  being  for  the  purpose  of  instruction,  as  stated  in  Gen- 
eral Totten's  letter,  enclosed  in  mine  of  the  llth,  I  would  propose,  if  no 
other  means  could  be  adopted  to  place  these  instruments  at  the  disposal  of 
the  State  Department,  (where  they  have  been  for  many  years,)  to  exchange 
for  them  the  large  and  valuable  altitude  and  azimuth  instrument  by 
Troughton  &  Semmes.  This  is  one  of  the  best  instruments  of  the  kind 
in  the  country,  and  combines  all  the  parts  of  both  the  other  instruments, 
but  unfortunately  it  is  too  large  for  use  on  the  Mexican  boundary.  The 
instrument  referred  to  is  the  first  named  on  the  invoice  herewith  sent. 
A  letter  received  from  the  Hon.  John  B.  Weller,  commissioner,  &c.,  re- 
quests that  all  these  instruments,  intended  to  go  overland,  may  be  sent 
to  New  0 deans  before  the  23d. 


[34] 


24 


I  return  herewith  the  list  of  instruments  furnished  me  from  the  records 
of  the  Department  of  State. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY,  ' 
Brevet  Major  United  States  Army. 
Hon.  JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

Secretary  of  State. 


NEW  ORLEANS,  March  7,  1 849. 

SIR:  I  received  half  the  amount  of  draft  sent  me  for  three  thousand  dollars 
by  the  United  States  commissioner  upon  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  for 
purposes  necessary  to  outfit  and  expenses  of  party,  &c.,  in  the  boundary 
Iin6  service.  When  I  left  Washington,  ten  days  ago,  immediately  after 
receiving  the  certificate  to  a  copy  of  the  treaty  map,  it  was  supposed  that 
I  would  meet  the  commissioner  here,  and  in  that  event  would  not  require 
the  balance  of  the  amount  of  draft  charged  to  me. 

I  advised  Mr.  Weller  that  we  were  coming,  but,  from  the  irregularity  of 
the  telegraph,  presume  he  did  not  receive  my  despatch.  I  found  on  my 
arrival  to-day  that  three  of  the  other  officers  attached  to  the  survey,  from 
unavoidable  detention,  (frozen  state  of  the  Ohio  river,)  did  not  reach  this 
city  either,  until  two  days  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Weller,  who  sailed 
on  the  2d  instant.  I  therefore  found  it  necessary  to  advise  you  of  my 
want  of  the  other  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  to  save  time  I  sent  the  dis- 
patch by  telegraph,  asking  permission  to  draw  on  the  department  for  the 
same. 

A  vessel  will  leave  this  for  Chagres  in  a  short  time,  and  I  apprehend 
there  will  be  no  delay  to  prevent  our  reaching  San  Diego  almost  as  soon 
as  the  commissioner. 

AVith  highest  esteem,  I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ANDREW  B.  GRAY, 
Surveyor  under  5th  article  of  treaty  with  Mexico. 

Hon.  Mr.  CLAYTOX,  Secretary  of  State,  Washington  city. 


PANAMA,  NEW  GRANADA,  March  20,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  under  instructions  from  your  de- 
partment of  the  24th  January  last,  I  embarked  from  New  Orleans,  with 
the  necessary  number  of  employes,  on  the  2d  instant,  and  reached  this 
city  on  the  16th.  On  the  30th  of  January,  at  my  request,  a  letter  was 
addressed  to  the  American  consul  in  this  city,  directing  him  to  have  trans- 
portation ready  for  me  and  the  party  by  the  12th  instant  at  Graces;  and. 
although  this  letter  had  been  duly  received,  the  transportation  had  not 
been  provided,  nor  could  I  hear  of  the  consul  in  any  way  until  I  reached 
Panama.*  His  conduct  here  generally  has  given  much  dissatisfaction  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  Slates  emigrating  to  California;  but  I  have  not 
given  such  investigation  to  the  various  charges  made  against  him  as  to 
enable  me  to  say  how  far  they  are  true. 

The  charges  for  transportation  over  the  isthmus  are  enormous,  and 
there  is  but  little  prospect  at  present  of  a  diminution. 

*  See  Mr.  Nelson's  explanation. — J.  M.  C. 


25  [  34  ] 

The  steamer  "  Orus"  navigates  the  Chagres  river  only  15  miles,  and 
passengers  and  freight  are  carried  from  thence  to  Gorgona  (about  35  miles) 
in  canoes. 

The  greater  portion  of  my  party  will  remain  at  Gorgona  until  all  the 
supplies  reach  this  place.  I  have  with  me  four  months'  supplies  for  the 
whole  party— six  months'  supplies  having  been  shipped,  previous  to  my 
leaving  the  United  States,  from  New  York  to  San  Diego  direct. 

There  is  no  transportation  here  now,  and  from  present  indications  it  is 
exceedingly  doubtful  whether  the  party  can  be  gotten  to  San  Diego  for 
months  to  come,  unless  a  government  vessel  should  touch  at  this  point. 
I  intend,  however,  to  obtain  transportation  for  myself  by  the  first  steamer 
which  comes  in,  so  as  to  comply  with  the  5th  article  of  the  treaty.  It  is 
probable  I  will  have  to  go  to  San  Francisco  and  travel  by  land  thence 
to  San  Diego. 

It  is  important,  in  my  opinion,  that  the  appropriation  made  by  the  act 
of*  Congress  of  the  12th  of  August,  1848,  to  defray  the  expenses,  &c.,  of 
running  the  boundary,  should  be  placed  in  a  position  where  my  drafts 
upon  it  will  be  duly  honored.  The  employes  generally  will  desire  to  re- 
ceive their  pay  in  the  United  States,  and  I  have  to  request  (if  consistent 
with  the  views  of  the  department)  that  the  funds  may  be  drawn  from  the 
treasury  and  placed  to  my  credit  in  New  York,  say  the  "  Bank  of  Amer- 
ica." I  will  then  be  enabled  to  discharge  the  demands  against  the  com- 
mission without  difficulty  or  delay.  The  amount  now  in  my  hands  will 
be  wholly  inadequate  to  pay  the  expenses  here  and  transportation  to  San 
Diego. 

Major  Emory,  chief  of  the  topographical  engineers,  reached  this  city  on 
yesterday.  Mr.  Gray,  the  surveyor,  has  not  yet  arrived.  As  his  presence 
at  San  Diego  previous  to  the  30th  of  May  is  indispensable,  I  may  possi- 
bly be  detained  by  his  movements. 

At  all  events,  the  department  maybe  assured  that  all  in  my  power  will 
be  done  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  treaty. 

In  the  mean  while,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  States  Commissioner. 

Hon.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE. 


PANAMA,  March  25,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you  that  I  joined  the  commission  for 
"running  and  marking  the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and  Mex- 
ico" at  this  place  on  the  17th  instant,  in  charge  of  all  the  astronomical 
apparatus  and  surveying  instruments  for  the  use  of  the  commission,  ex- 
cept those  sent  by  the  steamers  Northerner  and  Senator,  via  Cape  Horn, 
of  which  you  have  been  heretofore  advised. 

The  commissioner  reached  here  one  day  before  me.  I  exhibited  to 
him  my  instructions  from  the  State  and  War  Departments,  and  informed 
him  of  the  condition  and  place  of  the  apparatus  confided  to  my  care,  and 
the  steps  taken,  under  instructions  of  the  Department  of  State,  in  regard 
to  it. 


[34] 


26 


It  was  not  possible,  as  those  instructions  contemplated,  to  leave  New 
York  before  the  1st  of  March;  nor  was  it  practicable  to  carry  the  instru- 
ments overland  to  New  Orleans  to  ship  on  board  the  steamer  Alabama, 
which  sailed  from  that  port  for  Chagres  on  the  2d  instant;  and  I  was  com- 
pelled to  ship  them,  and  take  passage  for  myself  and  party,  in  the  steamer 
Northerner,  which  sailed  direct  from  New  York  to  Chagres.  Everything 
has  arrived  here  in  safety,  and  in  good  condition  for  immediate  service, 
except  some  of  the  astronomical  books  and  tables  left  with  one  of  my  as- 
sistants and  my  servant  in  New  Orleans.  The  means  of  getting  from  this 
place  to  San  Diego  are  left  with  the  commissioner.  It  may  be  proper, 
however,  to  inform  you  that,  being  charged,  in  addition  to  my  other  du- 
ties, with  the  command  of  the  military  escort  intended  to  protect  the  com- 
mission, I  will  make  the  attempt  to  reach  San  Diego  in  time  to  report  the 
escort  in  readiness  so  soon  as  the  commission  assembles,  so  that  no  delay 
will  happen  from  that  cause. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY, 
Bvt.  Maj.  United  States  Army,  fyc. 

Hon.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE. 


STEAMSHIP  FALCON, 

At  Sea,  March  26,  1849. 

SIR:  Up  to  the  last  moment  before  leaving  New  Orleans,  I  waited  with 
anxious  expectation  a  despatch  from  your  department;  but,  receiving  none, 
I  finally  sailed,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  21st  instant,  for  Chagres, 
which  latter  port  we  expect  to  reach  in  all  to-morrow. 

At  Panama  I  hope  to  join  the  commissioner,  and  to  proceed  with  him 
to  San  Diego.  I  should  have  waited  till  hearing  from  you;  but,  finding 
little  reliance  is  to  be  placed  in  the  present  system  of  conducting  tele- 
graphic communications,  and  fearing  lest  no  other  favorable  opportunity 
would  again  occur  in  some  time  for  me  to  proceed  on  my  mission,  I 
deemed  it  advisable  to  take  the  responsibility  of  at  once  embarking.  I 
hope  it  will  have  met  with  your  approval,  and  that  of  the  President. 

I  forward  a  few  papers  which  1  had  withdrawn  for  the  purpose  of  ma- 
king copies,  and  which  I  beg  leave  to  ask  may  be  filed  for  reference  in 
your  department:  they  are  the  originals. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  veiy  faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ANDREW  B.  GRAY, 

United  States  Survey or  under  treaty  with  Mexico. 
Hon.  Mr.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washington  city. 


PANAMA,  May  9,  1849. 

SIR:  The  enclosed  package,  addressed  to  Wm.  Cranch  Bond,  director 
of  the  observatory  at  Cambridge,  contains  a  series  of  astronomical  and 
other  observations  intended  for  review  by  the  A.  academy  of  Boston. 

These  observations,  and  the  object  in  sending  them  to  the  academy, 


27  [  34  ] 

being  connected  directly  with  the  service  on  the  boundary  \vith  which  I 
have  been  honored  by  the  Department  of  State,  induce  me  to  request  they 
may  be  forwarded  under  the  frank  of  the  department. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY,  Bvt.  Maj.  U.  S.  Army, 
Chief  Ast.  and  Top.  Eng.  U.  S.  Boundary  Survey. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  June  16,  1S49. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  my  arrival  at  this  place  on  the  1st  in- 
stant, with  ten  of  my  party.  I  regret  that  the  unnecessary  detention  of  the 
steamer  at  Panama,  by  the  agent  of  Messrs.  Aspinwall  &  Co.,  prevented 
me  from  complying  with  the  requisitions  of  the  treaty.  Another  portion 
of  those  engaged  upon  this  survey  came  in,  a  few  days  since,  on  the  Ore- 
gon, and  the  balance  still  remain  at  Panama.  In  consequence  of  this  di- 
vision, I  have  been  subjected  to  much  trouble,  and  a  good  deal  of  ex- 
pense, which  otherwise  would  not  have  been  incurred. 

General  Garcia  Conde  (who  I  understand  is  the  commissioner  appoint- 
ed by  the  republic  of  Mexico)  has  not  yet  arrived.  I  received,  however, 
a  few  days  since,  a  letter  from  our  consul  at  San  Bias,  advising  me  that 
he  sailed  from  that  port  in  a  British  vessel  for  San  Diego  on  the  24th 
ultimo,  with  his  suite  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  soldiers.  His  arrival, 
therefore,  is  daily  expected.  No  time  will  be  lost  upon  our  part  in  organ- 
izing the  commission,  and  placing  the  parties  in  the  field.  In  the  absence 
of  instructions,  (if  agreeable  to  the  Mexican  commissioner,)  we  will  pro- 
ceed with  the  work  as  if  the  meeting  had  taken  place  within  the  time 
prescribed  by  the  treaty. 

It  will  require  some  time  to  secure  the  necessary  transportation  to  pass 
from  the  Pacific  to  the  Colorado ;  and  it  may  be  found  wholly  impractica- 
ble to  prosecute  the  work  from  this  direction  beyond  that  point.  In  the 
existing  state  of  military  discipline  here,  I  apprehend  the  necessary  escort 
could  not  be  easily  obtained  beyond  that  river.  Two  companies  have 
been  reported  to  me  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  escort — one  compa- 
ny of  sixty-one  dragoons;  the  other,  twenty-two  infantry,  effective  and 
non-eifective.  I  have  no  information  as  to  the  number  agreed  upon  by 
the  respective  governments;  but  in  my  opinion  this  force  will  be  entirely  too 
small.  Our  expenses  have  already  been  so  great,  that  I  fear  the  appro- 
priation made  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  August  12,  1848,  will  be  quite 
exhausted  soon  after  the  work  is  commenced.  Our  limited  means  will 
retard  our  progress  very  much,  and  in  the  end  subject  us  to  expenses 
which  otherwise  might  have  been  avoided.  The  Congress  of  1848, 1  am 
sure,  could  not  have  anticipated  the  state  of  affairs  in  this  country,  else 
the  appropriation  would  have  been  much  more  liberal.  As  it  is,  I  tan 
only  promise  to  use  the  means  at  my  command  to  the  best  advantage. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
United  States  Commissioner. 

Hon.  JNO.  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washington,  D.  C. 


[34] 


28 


PUEBLO  OF  SAN  JOSE,  August,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Beale,  United 
States  navy,  your  letter  conferring  on  me  the  post  of  commissioner  of  the 
United  States  for  the  determination  of  our  boundary  line  with  Mexico. 
I  feel  much  gratified  in  accepting  the  appointment,  and  beg  to  offer 
through  you  to  the  President  my  acknowledgments  for  the  mark  of  con- 
fidence betowed  upon  me,  and  which  he  may  be  assured  is  fully  appre- 
ciated. Colonel  Weller  is  now  at  San  Francisco,  having  just  arrived 
from  the  south.  His  reports  of  the  actual  state  of  the  survey  will  proba- 
bly suggest  instructions  for  me.  I  will  see  him  within  a  few  days,  and, 
after  having  made  myself  acquainted  with  the  condition  of  the  work, 
shall  be  able  to  communicate  understandingly  with  the  department. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  C.  FREMONT. 

Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


CAMP  RILEY,  CALIFORNIA,  September  15,  1849. 

SIR:  General  orders  No.  65,  dated  Adjutant  General's  office,  Washing- 
ton, December  27,  1848,  placed  me  in  command  of  the  escort  to  the 
United  States  boundary  commission,  and  directed  me  to  report  for  further 
instructions  to  the  Secretary  of  State.  I  did  so  report,  and  received  an 
order  transferring  to  my  custody  all  the  astronomical  and  surveying  in- 
struments destined  for  service  on  the  boundary  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico.  I  received  at  the  same  time  information  that  I  was  to  be 
the  chief  astronomer  and  topographical  engineer  on  the  work. 

In  the  instructions  to  the  United  States  commissioner,  dated  Washing- 
ton, February  13,  1849,  (a  copy  of  which  I  obtained  at  my  own  re- 
quest,) I  am  designated  as  the  chief  astronomer  and  topographical  en- 
gineer. Beyond  this,  I  have  received  from  the  Department  of  State  no 
instructions,  nor  have  I  received  a  letter  of  appointment.  Being  on  the 
ground  as  commander  of  the  escort,  I  have  retained  the  custody  of  these 
instruments,  and  have  performed  the  duties  above  designated. 

It  is  questionable  in  my  mind  whether  the  Department  of  State  has  fol- 
lowed up  its  intention  conveyed  in  the  preliminary  instructions  of  Feb- 
ruary 15.  But  if  it  has  done  so,  and  I  am  considered  as  occupying  the 
position  of  chief  astronomer  and  topographical  engineer,  I  now  desire, 
for  reasons  which,  in  my  judgment,  form  an  insurmountable  obstacle  to 
the  proper  performance  of  these  duties,  to  be  released  from  all  duty  with 
this  commission.  I  request  the  person  may  be  designated  to  whom  the 
instruments  in  my  custody  shall  be  turned  over.  They  are  at  present  dis- 
tributed between  Captain  Hardcastle,  Lieutenant  Whipple,  Mr.  A.  B. 
Gray,  and  myself. 

In  due  season,  an  account  will  be  rendered  of  my  astronomical  determi- 
nations on  this  work,  as  well  as  those  of  the  officers  under  my  command, 
and  the  commission  will  be  furnished  with  the  result. 

By  the  time  of  receiving  my  recall,  I  hope  to  have  finished  the  determi- 
nation of  the  astronomical  line  forming  the  boundary  between  the  Pacific 
and  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  river,  and  it  will  be  a  convenient  point  for  the 
transfer  of  the  work  to  other  hands. 


29  [ 84  ] 

The  commissioner  has  been  absent  on  business  since  the  16th  August, 
and  I  am  without  the  means  of  knowing  what  is  to  be  done  with  the 
civil  assistants  brought  out  by  me;  but  I  respectfully  ask  consideration  for 
them,  more  particularly  for  the  two  scientific  gentlemen — Professor  James 
Nooney  and  Dr.  C.  C.  Parry;  and  that,  should  their  services  be  no 
longer  required,  directions  may  be  given  to  have  their  expenses  paid  back 
to  their  homes. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY, 

Brevet  Major  Corps  Topographical  Engineers,  fyc. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State* 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA, 

October  4,  1849, 

SIR:  The  sketch  which  accompanies  this  note  will  show  you  the  posi' 
tion  of  the  initial  point  of  boundary  between  our  country  and  that  of  the 
Mexican  republic,  as  fixed  by  the  survey  of  the  southern  part  of  the  port 
of  San  Diego,  and  measurement  of  the  marine  league,  agreeably  to  the 
decision  of  the  joint  commission  of  July  9,  and  in  conformity  with  the 
5th  article  of  the  treaty  with  Mexico.  It  will  also  show  approximately  the 
direction  that  the  line  will  take  over  the  ridge  of  highlands  which  come 
down  to  the  Pacific,  and  across  the  valley  of  the  river  "  Tia  Juan" — the 
same  valley  up  Avhich  we  travelled  on  our  recent  reconnoissance  to  the 
mountains  separating  the  desert  from  the  ocean. 

I  had  advised  the  surveyor  on  the  part  of  Mexico  of  my  having  com- 
pleted the  surveys  necessary  for  me  to  determine  the  southernmost  point 
of  the  port,  as  called  for  in  the  treaty ;  and  a  few  days  after  your  departure 
to  San  Francisco  we  exhibited  to  each  other  small  plans  of  our  triangula- 
tions,  &c.,  which  agreed  without  any  difference.  But  the  changes  from 
local  causes  by  time,  &c.,  which  have  taken  place  in  that  portion  of  the 
port,  and  the  peculiar  features  which  it  now  presents,  caused  Mr.  Jalazar 
to  think  the  southernmost  point  to  be  further  to  the  north  than  I  had  be- 
lieved was  represented  on  the  map  accompanying  the  treaty.  A  difference 
in  the  season  of  the  year,  which  possibly  may  have  been  the  case,  in  which 
the  two  surveys  were  made,  (that  of  1782  and  that  of  our  own,)  might  also 
make  a  difference  in  its  appearance. 

I  pointed  the  positions  of  one  or  two  points  in  the  range  of  bluffs  bor- 
dering the  low  salt  flats,  and  in  which  time  seemed  to  have  made  no 
change,  and  proved  the  identity  of  this  range  very  nearly  with  the  black 
curve  line  representing  the  boundary  of  the  port  of  the  map  of  Don  Juan 
Pantoja.  He  desired  to  make  a  few  more  measurements,  which  he  did, 
and  advised  me  of  his  being  induced  to  believe  that  the  line  of  coast  on 
the  treaty  map  was  the  same  very  nearly  with  the  highland  or  line  of 
bluffs  mentioned.  The  difference  between  the  point  agreed  upon  by  us 
and  that  first  supposed  by  him  was  some  3,500  feet,  and  which  places  the 
initial  point  that  distance  further  south. 

The  parallel  from  which  we  commenced  the  measurement  of  the  marine 


[34] 


30 


league  was  that  of  the  highest  point  at  which  indications  were  noticed  of 
the  overflow  of  salt-water,  or  the  water  of  the  port. 

Every  degree  of  accuracy  was  pursued  in  the  marine-league  measure- 
ment, and  the  number  of  metres  taken  for  its  length  was  5,564.6,  accord- 
ing to  the  authority  of  "  Francoeur. "  The  double  red  line  upon  the 
sketch  will  show  that  two  offsets  were  necessary  to  avoid  inequalities  and 
irregularities  in  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  to  obtain  a  level  plain,  as 
far  as  practicable. 

The  initial  point,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  sketch,  falls  upon  the  sand 
beach  within  a  hundred  metres  of  a  plain  triangularly  shaped  and  eleva- 
ted by  a  bluff  bank  about  50  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  is  also 
backed  by  a  mountainous  spur  which  puts  out  from  the  great  chain  reach- 
ing from  Upper  to  Lower  California,  and  is  an  excellent  natural  position 
for  a  monument  to  fix  the  limit  of  the  two  countries. 

My  parties  are  now  actively  engaged  in.  the  field ;  and  when  I  will  have 
returned  from  the  reconnoissance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  river  along  the 
line,  and  which  I  am  desirous  of  accomplishing  within  the  next  20  days, 
I  will  then,  I  hope,  have  made  the  requisite  triangulations  to  fix  the  mouth 
and  vicinity  of  that  river  for  mapping;  also,  have  obtained  in  that  time  suffi- 
cient topography  and  notes  enough  of  the  line  between  the  Pacific  and 
that  point.  This  will  enable  us,  so  soon  as  the  latitudes  and  longitudes  of 
the  two  extremes  are  determined  by  the  astronomical  party  engaged  upon 
that  duty,  to  make  out  a  very  correct  plan  of  this  whole  line,  (between 
said  points,)  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  demarcation,  and  for  the  erection 
of  monuments  at  those  points  decided  upon  at  any  time  by  the  joint  com- 
mission hereafter. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ANDREW  B.  GRAY,  U.  S.  Surveyor,  fyc. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER,  U.  S.  Commissioner. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  October  5,  1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  since  my  despatch  of  the  28th 
July  last,  the  commission  has  been  actively  engaged  in  executing  the  im- 
portant duties  imposed  by  the  treaty.  The  boundary  line  from  the  initial 
point  on  the  Pacific  to  the  junction  of  the  Gila  with  the  Colorado  will  be 
an  astronomical  line  connecting  the  two  points.  To  obtain  the  azimuth  of 
this  line,  the  determination  of  latitude  and  longitude  of  its  extremities  was 
necessary.  The  determination  of  this  line  is  nearly  completed.  Major 
Emory,  the  chief  astronomer  of  the  commission,  finding  no  suitable  point 
for  an  observatory  at  the  initial  point  on  the  Pacific,  established  one  at 
"Camp  Riley,"  and  determined  its  geographical  position,  in  latitude  and 
longitude,  by  no  less  than  three  hundred  observations  on  stars  near  the 
zenith,  and  its  longitude  by  observations  on  every  culmination  of  the  moon 
and  the  moon-culminating  stars  which  was  observable  since  the  estab- 
lishment of  his  observatory,  on  the  20th  July  last;  and  these  results  have 
been  carried  from  his  observatory  to  the  initial  point  by  a  single  triangle. 
In  a  very  few  days,  all  the  necessary  computations  will  be  completed. 

On  the  8th  ultimo,  Lieutenant  Whipple,  of  the  astronomical  party,  with 
a  suitable  escort,  was  sent  to  the  Gila,  and  is  now  at  the  junction  of  that 
river  with  the  Colorado,  for  the  purpose  of  observing  with  a  view  to  deter- 


31  [34] 

mine  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  that  point.  Captain  Hardcastle,  of  the 
same  corps,  in  the  mean  time  has  been  despatched  to  the  mountains  this 
side  of  the  desert,  between  the  two  points,  to  conduct  the  signals  by 
means  of  which  Major  Emory  will  be  enabled  to  connect  the  two  extremes 
of  the  time  in  longitude.  In  the  event  this  fails,  the  absolute  determina- 
tions in  longitude,  made  respectively  by  Major  Emory  and  Lieutenant 
Whipple,  will  be  resorted  to,  and  the  azimuth  of  the  line  forming  the 
boundary  completed  and  marked  on  the  ground.  I  will',  in  a  few  days, 
send  a  detachment  of  the  surveying  party  along  the  line  to  make  a  topo- 
graphical sketch  of  the  country  between  the  two  points;  and  I  have  no 
doubt  within  twenty  or  thirty  days  this  great  work  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Colorado  will  be  completed,  and  nothing  will  remain  except  to  fill  in  a  few 
intermediate  points.  This,  with  the  placing  of  suitable  monuments  on 
the  Pacific  and  at  the  intersection  of  the  Gila  with  the  Colorado,  will 
complete  what  has  always  been  regarded  the  most  difficult  portion  of  the 
work.  The  distance  will  be  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles.  As  a 
natural  boundary,  the  Gila  and  the  Rio  Grande  constitute  a  large  portion  of 
the  remainder  of  the  line.  It  is  thought  no  difficulty  will  be  found  in 
establishing  it. 

I  must  again  repeat,  that  unless  Congress,  at  an  early  day  in  its  next 
session,  appropriate  the  necessary  means,  the  work  must  be  suspended. 

My  movements  have  already  been  much  retarded  for  the  want  of  funds, 
and  I  trust  the  commission  may  not  be  thus  embarrassed  in  future.  If 
the  joint  commission  is  broken  up  from  any  cause,  the  work  is  inevitably 
suspended  for  an  indefinite  period. 

I  send  herewith  a  map,  prepared  by  the  surveyor,  Mr.  Gray,  with  an 
explanatory  note,  showing  his  operations  in  determining  the  initial  point 
in  the  boundary. 

No  communication  whatever  has  been  received  from  your  department 
since  the  15th  March  last. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
United  States  Commissioner. 

Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  November  3,  1849. 

SIR:  The  forms  and  ceremonies  necessary  to  fix  and  determine  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth  the  initial  point  in  the  boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  the  republic  of  Mexico,  on  the  Pacific,  were  gone  through 
with  on  the  10th  ultimo,  in  presence  of  various  members  of  the  joint  com- 
mission and  numerous  other  witnesses. 

In  consequence  of  some  changes  which  have  evidently  taken  place 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  port  of  San  Diego  since  the  survey  of  Don 
Juan  Pantoja  in  178*2,  it  became  necessary  to  make  an  accurate  sur- 
vey of  that  part  of  the  harbor.  This  was  executed  by  the  surveyors  on 
each  side  some  weeks  since. 

A  difference  of  a  few  feet  was  found  to  exist  between  the  representatives 
of  the  two  governments  as  to  the  precise  point  which  ought  to  be  re- 
garded as  "the  southernmost  point  of  the  port  of  San  Diego, "  This,  how- 


[34] 


32 


ever,  was  soon  adjusted,  in  the  spirit  of  compromise,  by  the  commission- 
ers on  the  ground,  and  a  point  selected  from  which  "a  marine  league  due 
south"  was  measured. 

At  the  place  thus  selected  as  the  initial  point,  a  temporary  monument 
has  been  erected,  until  suitable  materials  for  the  construction  of  a  perma- 
nent one  can  be  obtained.  The  monument  will  be  placed  five  hundred 
feet  from  the  ocean,  and  on  a  point  of  land  forty-two  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  Its  precise  latitude,  as  agreed  upon,  is  32°  31'  59". 58,  which 
will  make  it  about  eighteen  miles  south  of  this  town.  A  small  portion  of 
the  computations  necessary  to  determine  the  exact  longitude  have  not  yet 
been  completed,  and  consequently  I  am  not  now  able  to  give  it  with  pre- 
cision. 

The  astronomical  detachment,  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant  Whipple, 
referred  to  in  my  last  communication,  is  still  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  hav- 
ing nearly  completed  the  observations  necessary  to  determine  the  geogra- 
phical position  of  that  point.  His  return  is  expected  in  a  few  days. 

On  the  12th  ultimo,  the  surveyor,  with  a  portion  of  his  corps,  left  here 
for  the  Gila,  with  the  view  to  examine  the  point  at  which  that  river  empties 
into  the  Colorado.  For  reasons  perhaps  satisfactory  to  himself,  he  re- 
turned without  having  reached  that  river.  As  to  the  extent  or  character 
of  the  information  elicited  by  that  expedition  I  have  no  knowledge. 

Our  movements  have  been  much  retarded  for  the  want  of  the  necessary 
means  to  purchase  transportation,  &c.  If  the  department  had  seen  proper 
to  provide  me  even  with  the  funds  parsimoniously  appropriated  by  Con- 
gress, the  work  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Gila  would  have  been  finished 
before  this. 

Although  the  steamers  arrive  here  regularly  from  the  northern  as  well 
as  the  southern  portion  of  the  coast,  I  have  not  had  the  honor  to  receive 
any  communication  whatever  from  your  department,  excepting  your  very 
kind  note  of  the  loth  March,  sent  by  way  of  the  city  of  Mexico. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
United  States  Commissioner. 

Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washington. 

SAN  DIEGO,  November  14,  1849. 

SIR:  I  herewith  submit  to  you  a  sketch  or  plan  of  the  junction  of  the 
Rio  tjJila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado,  as  referred  to  in  my  com- 
munication of  the  9th  instant. 

It  is  made  from  the  notes  and  topography  of  the  reconnoissance  and 
survey  of  that  point  by  my  assistant,  Mr.  Forster,  (aided  by  Lieutenant 
Whipple,)  on  our  late  expedition. 

B  and  C  are  two  points  which  at  present  might  be  considered  the  ends 
of  the  banks  which  form  the  Gila  at  its  embouchure  into  the  Colorado; 
and  A,  another  point,  which  I  have  placed  as  about  the  position  where 
the  two  waters  mingle,  or  very  nearly  where  the  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila 
unites  with  the  Colorado. 

The  latter  river  now  being  low,  the  current  is  swiftest  between  the 
island  and  main  land,  and  strikes  the  water  of  the  Gila  at  A;  but  when 
higher,  the  two  waters  may  join  or  mingle  some  distance  further  north. 


33  [34] 

The  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Gila  at  B  is  constantly  wearing  away 
by  the  action  of  the  currents,  being  low  and  soft;  consequently,  the  posi- 
tion of  that  point  changes,  as  also  the  configuration  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Gila;  and  the  point  D  may  very  shortly  be  (if  not  now  considered)  the 
end  of  the  southern  or  western  bank  of  that  river*  The  middle,  there- 
fore, to-day,  may  not  be  the  same  as  yesterday. 

The  waters,  after  mingling,  converge  and  break  through  a  dyke  of 
feltzspatic  rock  about  700  feet  across;  and  if  it  is  decided  that  the  point 
where  the  middle  of  the  river  Gila  unites  with  the  Colorado  is  at  A,  the 
line  of  boundary  in  its  course  from  the  Pacific  will  probably  fail  to  the 
southward  of  the  bluffs,  and  thus  include  in  our  territory  both  sides  of  the 
Colorado,  at  the  present  emigrant  crossing.  These  elevated  heights  may 
be  considered  important,  not  only  in  a  civil  but  military  point  of  view. 

The  rains  and  weather  having  been  so  severe  for  some  days,  I  have 
been  prevented  from  drawing,  etc.,  in  my  tents,  or  the  accompanying 
plan  would  have  been  submitted  earlier.  I  am  preparing  my  notes  and 
sketches  now  for  mapping  our  further  reconnoissances  along  the  boundary 
line,  and  when  completed  they  will  be  properly  submitted. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GRAY, 
U,  &  Surveyor  under  treaty  with  Mexico. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

U.  S.  Commissioner, 


MOUTH  OF  Rio  GILA,  November  29,  1849. 

:  The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  official  communication  re- 
ceived from  Major  W.  H.  Emory: 

"The  commissioner,  who  is  confined  to  his  bed,  desires  me  to  say,  he 
will  be  glad^  if  you  will  agree  with  Mr,  Salazar  on  the  point  where  the 
Gila  empties  into  the  Colorado,  and  make  an  accurate  survey  of  the  same, 
and  also  of  the  boundary  line  from  that  point  to  where  it  crosses  the 
Colorado." 

Being  informed  that  you  are  at  the  lower  crossing  of  the  Colorado,  and 
on  your  way  hither,  I  beg  leave  to  inquire  whether  you  can  conform  to 
the  wishes  of  the  United  States  commissioner;  and  if  so,  at  what  time  it 
will  suit  your  convenience  to  unite  in  an  examination  of  the  junction  of 
the  two  rivers,  to  decide  upon  the  point  described  by  the  treaty. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

Lieutenant  U,  &  Top,  Engineers,  U.  S.  Boundary  Commission. 
Mr.  SALAZAR, 

Surveyor ',  $*c.,  ^c.,/or  the  demarcation  of  the  line  of 

boundary  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico. 


SAN  DIEGO,  December  15,  1849. 

MAJOR  :  Your  official  communication,  dated  at  Camp  Riley,  November 
9)  was  received  by  me  at  the  mouth  of  Rio  Gila,  November  22.     Mr. 
Ex.— 3 


[34] 


34 


Salazar,  the  Mexicah  astronomer  and  surveyor,  had  not  then  reached  the 
Rio  Colorado;  and,  in  order  to  carry  out  your  instructions  more  specifi- 
cally, I  waited  until  the  26th  before  I  commenced  to  mark  upon  the  ground 
points  which  by  our  observations  were  determined  to  be  in  the  line  of 
boundary.  I  then  erected  a  stone  pier  upon  the  first  hill  in  the  azimuth 
line  of  boundary  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Gila  toward  the  Pacific  ocean. 
From  this  pier,  by  a  series  of  astronomical  observations,  I  measured  the 
computed  azimuth,  and  marked  three  points  in  the  line  of  boundary,  viz: 
the  stone  itself  upon  the  first  hill  west  from  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  a 
point  upon  the  second  hill  west,  and  a  third  point  upon  the  right  bank  of 
the  Gila  near  its  junction  with  the  Colorado. 

Upon  the  evening  of  November  28,  I  learned  that  Mr.  Salazar  was  en- 
camped at  the  lower  crossing  of  the  Rio  Colorado,  and  the  next  morning 
despatched  a  messenger  to  him  with  a  letter  of  which  I  enclose  a  copy. 
Mr.  Salazar  promptly  accepted  the  invitation  to  decide  upon  the  initial 
point  of  boundary,  and  early  November  30  arrived  at  my  camp. 

We  examined  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers,  and  the  plot  I  had  made, 
and  he  agreed  with  me  that  the  point  I  had  selected  was  that  defined  by 
the  treaty.  It  was  also  decided  that  the  stone  pillar  I  had  erected  upon 
which  to  measure  the  azimuth  should  be  considered  a  monument  upon 
the  boundary  line. 

This  agreement  was  written,  examined  by  General  Conde,  the  Mexi- 
can commissioner,  translated  into  Spanish  by  Mr.  Iturbide,  the  Mexican 
interpreter,  arid  signed  by  Mr.  Salazar  and  myself.  The  copy  in  Spanish 
was  retained  for  the  Mexican  commissioner,  and  the  original,  in  English. 
I  enclose  and  beg  leave  to  transmit  through  you  to  the  United  States 
commissioner,  for  him  to  approve  officially. 

General  Conde  made  me  the  bearer  also  of  a  verbal  communication  to 
yourself  and  to  the  United  States  commissioner. 

He  stated  in  effect  that  there  would  be  no  difference  of  opinion  between 
the  two  commissioners  with  regard  to  the  operations  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Gila;  that  he  wished  to  return  toward  San  Diego  upon  the  boundary  line, 
and  to  enable  the  two  commissioners  to  close  officially  all  operations  upon 
the  line  of  boundary  between  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Gila  and  Pacific 
ocean;  he  desired  that  the  United  States  commissioner  would  send  a  party 
duly  authorized  to  act  conjointly  with  him  in  this  operation. 

I  remain,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 
Lieutenant  U.  S.  Top.  Engineers. 

Brevet  Major  W.  H.  EMORY, 

U.  S.  Top.  Engineers ,  Chief  Astronomer,  fyc.,  fyc., 

U.  S.  Boundary  Commission,  San  Diego,  California. 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  D.  C.,  December  15,  1849. 

SIR:  As  an  authorized  agent  and  attorney  for  John  B.  Weller,  commis- 
sioner to  run  and  mark  the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico,  I  had  the  honor,  some  months  since,  to  apply  through  you  for 
additional  funds  to  enable  said  commissioner  to  proceed  with  said  service; 
and  believing  now  that  your  refusal  at  that  time  was  induced  principally 
by  the  belief  that  Mr.  Weller  would  be  relieved  from  the  duties  of  com- 
missioner by  a  successor  before  additional  funds  were  actually  needed, 


35  [  34  ] 

conceiving  that  such  belief  has  not  been  borne  out  by  the  facts,  and 
learning  that  the  new  appointee  (Colonel  Fremont)  declines  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  commissioner,  I  beg  leave,  most  respectfully,  to  renew 
my  application. 

"Up  to  the  latest  day  of  our  last  advices  from  California—  the  5th  of 
November — Mr.  Weller  was  still  acting  in  the  capacity  of  commissioner, 
and  was  rigorously  prosecuting  the  business  of  that  office,  having  received 
no  official  information  regarding  a  discharge  therefrom.  He  has  suc- 
ceeded in  completing  the  establishment  of  the  initial  point  on  the  Pacific 
coast;  has  finished  the  survey  and  demarcation  of  the  line  from  the  Pa- 
cific coast  to  the  Colorado — -a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  work — and 
has  ascertained  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  each  of  the  two  extreme 
points.  In  short,  I  will  refer  you  to  the  correspondence  and  documents 
in  your  department,  received  from  him,  for  the  amount  and  nature  of  the 
service  he  has  performed,  and  then  ask  whether  it  is  not  altogether  likely 
that,  in  order  thereto,  he  has  been  compelled  to  incur  liabilities  greater  in 
amount  than  the  funds  that  have  been  directly  furnished  him?  I  think  it 
cannot  be  said,  when  all  the  facts  are  known,  that  he  ought  to  have,  or 
possibly  can  have,  funds  to  any  considerable  amount  remaining  in  his 
hands  out  of  the  advances  heretofore  made  him.  The  vouchers  returned 
by  him,  and  now  in  the  Fifth  Auditor's  office,  will  show  that  all  he  has 
had  advanced  him  has  been  expended  for  subsistence  stores  for  his  party 
for  six  months,  and  for  the  necessary  expenses  in  getting  his  party  out  to 
the  field  of  labor. 

The  department,  with  the  ample  data  in  its  possession,  is  able  to  form  a 
correct  estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  the  work  completed  by  Mr.  Wel- 
ler, and,  therefore,  also  of  the  probable  sum  now  actually  needed  by  the 
commissioner.  The  department  is  also  able,  no  doubt,  to  fix  the  proba- 
ble time  at  which  Mr.  Weller  will  leave  the  service,  and  can,  therefore, 
form  a  tolerably  correct  estimate  of  the  amount  of  funds  it  will  take  to 
keep  up  the  servioe  to  that  time;  and  here  the  assumption  that  the  de- 
partment is  unwilling  to  suffer  the  entire  suspension  of  the  service  for 
any  limited  period,  I  hope,  is  correct,  as  it  is  natural  and  justifiable;  and 
it  is  quite  certain  that,  unless  funds  are  furnished  the  commissioner  soon, 
he  will  be  compelled  to  suspend  the  work,  let  the  consequences  be  what 
they  may — the  nature  of  which  I  am  glad  to  believe  the  department  can 
sufficiently  estimate  to  induce  it  to  avert  them.  I  sincerely  hope,  sir,  you 
will  see  the  necessity  as  well  as  the  justice  of  furnishing  Mr.  VVeller  more 
funds,  and  that  /shall  have  the  pleasure  of  conveying  the  same  to  him, 
as  I  am  fully  authorized  by  him  to  do — the  evidence  of  which  I  will  ex- 
hibit to  you  at  any  time  you  shall  name. 

I  have  now  only  to  inform  you  that,  being  a  subaltern  of  the  commis- 
sion, I  have  received  orders  to  repair  to  San  Diego,  but  am  unable  to  do 
so  for  want  of  the  necessary  means;  and  unless  you  can  and  will  furnish 
me  the  necessary  amount  of  funds  on  account  of  the  commission,  I  shall 
remain  totally  unable  to  execute  the  orders  of  the  commissioner. 

I  have  received  no  payment  upon  my  salary  since  I  first  entered  the 
commission;  and  if  you  cannot  furnish  me  funds  as  just  estimated,  but 
will  have  the  goodness  to  allow  me  to  draw  from  the  treasury  (as  I  am 
authorized  by  the  commissioner  to  do)  a  sufficient  portion  of  my  salary  to 
enable  me  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  commissioner  to  repair  to  San  Diego, 
I  can  and  will  execute  a  voucher  which  shall  secure  the  accounting  offi- 


[34] 


36 


cer  against  any  charge  of  wrong-doing,  as  well  as  secure  the  public  treas- 
ury against  any  possible  loss. 

I  shall  feel  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  an  early  answer;  and  in  the  mean 
time,  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  L.  WELLER, 
Disbursing  Officer  U.  S.  and  Mexican  Boundary  Commission, 

and  Agent  and  Attorney  for  John  B.  Wetter. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


CAMP  RILEY,  December  16, 1849. 

SIR:  In  accordance  with  the  authority  delegated  by  you  through  me, 
Lieutenant  Whipple  has  agreed  with  Mr.  Salazar  upon  the  point  defined 
in  the  treaty  as  that  where  "  the  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila  unites  with  the 
Colorado."  He  is  the  bearer  of  this  agreement  in  writing,  as  well  as  of 
the  topographical  sketch,  founded  upon  actual  survey,  which  is  referred 
to  in  that  agreement. 

The  astronomical  line  forming  the  boundary  from  the  month  of  the 
Gila  towards  the  initial  point  upon  the  Pacific  has  been  marked  upon  the 
ground  for  about  one  mile.  I  have  myself  marked  the  boundary  line,  from 
the  initial  point  toward  the  point  where  the  Gila  unites  with  the  Colorado, 
for  about  five  miles,  and  erected,  on  elevated  points,  signals  by  which 
persons  passing  between  the  Cordilleras  of  California  and  the  Pacific? 
ocean  will  be  able  to  tell  when  they  pass  the  dividing  line.  These  signals, 
however,  it  is  presumed,  will  be  replaced  by  such  durable  monuments  as 
the  commissioners  may  agree  to  erect. 

Lieutenant  Whipple  is  the  bearer  of  a  proposition  from  General  Conde. 
I  beg  leave  to  suggest,  if  this  proposition  is  accepted,  it  be  with  the  modi- 
fication that  the  Mexicans  shall  continue  the  line  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Gila,  as  proposed  by  General  Conde,  and  that  we  shall  continue  the  line 
from  this  side,  already  commenced  by  me,  until  the  two  parties  meet. 
The  principal  operations  being  now  completed,  to  mark  upon  the  ground 
the  remainder  of  the  line  Avill  be  but  a  small  affair.  On  our  side  it  will 
require  but  a  very  small  party — one  officer,  two  assistants,  and  ten  men. 
It  may  also  be  well  to  suggest  that  each  party,  American  and  Mexican, 
should  have  a  duly  authorized  representative  from  the  other  side  to  accom- 
pany it  and  confirm  its  acts. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  EMORY, 
Brevet  Major  United  States  Army. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  States  Commissioner. 


WASHINGTON  CITY,  December  24,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  favor  of  the  20th  instant,  in  answer  to  mine  of  the  15th,  has 
been  received.  It  informs  me  that  "the  commissioner  is  charged  with  the 
disbursement  of  the  appropriation  made  by  Congress  for  the  boundary 


37  [  34  ] 

service,"  and  that  "my  application  for  pay  on  account  of  my  salary  as  a 
subaltern  in  the  commission  should  be  made  to  him."  And  what  I  now 
wish  to  say  in  reply  is,  that  all  the  commissioner  desires  is,  that  you  will 
not  intervene  between  him  and  the  strict  discharge  of  his  duty,  as  set 
forth  in  your  letter. 

He  cannot  disburse  said  appropriation  so  long  as  the  department  refuses 
to  allow  it  to  pass  into  his  hands,  or  dishonors  his  requisitions  upon  the 
department,  given  in  discharge  of  liabilities  incurred  on  account  of  the 
service.  I  am  the  disbursing  officer  of  the  commissioner,  as  will  be  seen 
in  the  commissioner's  report  on  the  organization  of  the  commission,  now 
in  the  State  Department,  and,  as  such,  hold  a  requisition  of  the  commis- 
sioner upon  the  department  fora  portion  of  said  appropriation,  which  I  am 
to  disburse,  agreeably  to  directions,  on  account  ot  the  service.  And  in  the 
name  and  on  behalf  of  the  commissioner,  I  only  ask  that  the  discharge  of 
his  duty,  as  set  forth  in  your  letter,  may  be  rendered  possible  by  having 
placed  under  his  control  the  appropriation  made  by  Congress. 

Your  reference  of  me  back  to  the  commissioner  for  my  pay  is  useless, 
since  he  cannot  be  allowed  to  draw  from  the  treasury  funds  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  commissioner,  in  recognition  and  part  payment  of  my  claim, 
put  into  my  hands  a  draft  upon  the  department,  which  has  not  been  hon- 
ored. If  the  commissioner's  requisitions  are  to  be  dishonored,  and  yet  it 
be  made  his  duty  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  service,  how,  I  ask,  with 
all  due  deference,  is  it  proposed  he  shall  accomplish  his  mission?  While 
so  much  time  is  being  consumed  in  getting  a  successor  to  Mr.  Weller 
installed,  is  it  expected  of  him  to  keep  up  the  service,  or  is  a  suspension 
desired?  If  the  former,  it  cannot  be  done  without  funds ;  and  if  the  latter, 
would  it  not  be  a  saving  to  the  government,  and  just  and  magnanimous 
towards  Mr.  Weller,  to  relieve  him  from  the  service  unconditionally? 

The  commissioner  asks  you,  through  me,  to  be  allowed  to  pay  a  portion 
of  the  salary  of  his  disbursing  officer,  and  for  that  purpose  has  drawn  a 
draft  for  $500,  which  I  will  present  at  any  time  you  may  have  the  kind- 
ness to  allow  its  payment. 

With  no  desire  to  become  importunate,  but  with  a  sincere  belief  that 
there  has  been  some  rnisconceptien  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  my  object  in 
addressing  you  now  is,  to  give  you  a  clearer  statement  in  regard  to  the 
draft  I  hold,  hoping  thereby  to  overconie  your  objections  to  its  payment 
here. 

With  a  respectful  request  to  be  informed,  as  soon  as  convenient,  whether 
or  not  you  still  adhere  to  your  former  decision  regarding  the  payment 
here  in  part  of  my  salary,  agreeably  to  the  requisition  of  the  commissioner, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  L.  WELLER. 

Hon.  THOMAS  EWING, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior  Department. 


The  two  commissioners  for  the  demarcation  of  the  line  of  boundary  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Mexico  having  given  authority  severally  to 
C.  Jose  Salazar  Ylarrequi,  surveyor,  astronomer,  &c.,  on  the  part  of  Mex- 
ico, and  A.  W.  Whipple,  lieutenant  United  States  topographical  engineers 
assistant  astronomer,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  to  decide  upon 


[  34  ]  38 

the  point  defined  by  the  fifth  article  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalup'e  Hidalgo- 
as  "the  middle  of  the  river  Gila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado/'  \ver 
therefore,  having  examined  with  attention  the  junction  of  Jhe  two  rivers, 
mutually  agree  upon  the  point  as  represented  in  the  accompanying  sketch. 

And  it  being  impossible  to  measure  the  azimuth  of  the  straight  line  of 
boundary  toward  the  Pacific  from  the  centre  of  the  river,  or  from  either  of  its 
immediate  banks,  on  account  of  a  hill  which  intervenes,  AVC-  have,  more- 
over, agreed  to  measure  the  azimuth  line  from  a  stone  pier  which  stands 
upon  the  hill  south  from  the  initial  point,  at  the  junction  of  the  two  riversr 
seventy-three  and  a  half  feet,  and  west  from  the  same  point  one  thousand 
and  seventy  feet,  and  to  consider  this  pier  as  a  monument  upon  the- 
boundary  line — this  point  being  elected  for  the  practical  operations  onlyr 
and  it  being  understood  as  making  no  appreciable  difference  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  line  of  boundary. 

JOSE  SALAZAR  YLARREQUI. 
A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

AT  THE  MOUTH  OF  THE.  Rio  GILA,  November  30,  1849. 


SAX  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  January  3,  ISoO. 

SIR:  The  appropriation  made  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  12th  of 
August,  1848,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the  bounda- 
ry line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  is  now  entirely  exhausted,, 
and  a  temporary  suspension  oi  the  work  is  unavoidable.  An  adjourn- 
ment of  the  commission  will  therefore  take  place  as  soon  as  I  can  ex- 
change communications  with  General  Omde,  who  is  now  at  the  Colorado. 
In  the  mean  time,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  finish  the  work  between  this  and 
the  Gila  river,  so  as  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  the  commission  to  return 
to  this  point. 

There  is  now  about  SI  1,000  due  the  employes,  and  my  inability  to 
pay  them  is  seriously  felt.  It  is  hard,  indeed,  that  gentlemen  who  have 
served  the  government  faithfully,  at  rates  less  than  one- half  that  paid  to 
other  employes  in  this  country,  should  now  be  left  destitute,  six  thousand 
miles  from  their  homes.  I  can  neither  pay  them  their  just  dues  nor  trans- 
port them  home.  Settlements,  however,  will  be  made,  and  certificates 
given  them  showing  the  amount  due,  with  an  allowance  for  transporta- 
tion to  the  point  where  employed.  To  those  who  may  desire  to  remain 
in  the  commission,  and  whose  services  may  be  regarded  as  necessary  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  work,  conditional  furloughs  will  be  given. 

I  enclose  herewith  a  survey  of  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  river,  with  an 
explanatory  letter  from  A.  B.  Gray,  esq.  After  a  careful  examination  of  this 
plat,  I  directed  Major  Emory  to  request  Lieutenant  Whipple  (who  was 
then  at  the  Colorado)  to  obtain,  if  possible,  the  consent  of  the  Mexican 
commissioner  to  the  point  marked  A  as  the  one  referred  to  in  the  treaty 
between  the  two  governments.  This  message  was  received  by  Lieutenant 
Whipple  about  the  time  the  Mexican  commissioner  reached  the  Gila;  and 
it  will  be  seen  from  the  report  of  Major  Emory  (herewith  enclosed)  that  the 
point  thus  designated  was  agreed  to.  The  authority  extended  no  further 
than  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  other  party  as  soon  as  possible  to  the 
point  indicated  on  the  map.  This  explanation  is  deemed  necessary,  in 


39  [  34  ] 

order  to  prevent  the  inference  which  might  be  drawn  from  the  papers, 
that  I  had  delegated  to  another  the  power  to  fix  and  determine  that  point 
in  the  boundary. 

Official  maps,  executed  in  conformity  with  the  requisitions  of  the  treaty, 
will  be  prepared  as  soon  as  possible,  and  forwarded  to  the  department. 

Deeming  the  matter  of  sufficient  importance,  I  have  charged  Wm.  R. 
Kinder,  the  acting  cterk  of  the  commission,  with  the  delivery  of  this 
communication;  he  is  also  intrusted  with  my  vouchers  for  settlement  at 
the  Treasury. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JNO.  B.   WELLER,  U.  S.  Comm'r. 

Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON,  Secretary  of  State. 


PANAMA,  NEW  GRANADA,  May  23,  1849. 

SIR:  Being  obliged  to  embark  at  once  upon  the  steamer  Oregon,  leaving 
behind  me  the  assistants  who  have  been  employed  for  service  under 
Major  W.  H.  Emory  upon  the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico,  I  deem  it  a  duty  to  myself,  and  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  to  transmit  to  the  department  at  Washington  the  enclosed  corres- 
pondence. It  will,  I  hope,  in  some  degree  explain  why  those  most  im- 
portant to  the  service  for  which  Major  Emory  and  myself  have  been  de- 
tailed are  obliged  to  remain  in  Panama.  As  I  must  this  moment  go  on 
board  the  steamer,  I  have  no  time  for  explanations  which  I  desire  to  make. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

Lt.  U.  S.  Top.  Engineers,  and  attacJied  to  U.  S.  B.  C. 
Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State. 


PANAMA,  May  13,  1849. 

SIR:  The  commissioner  having  informed  me  that  he  could  obtain 
passage  in  the  steamer  Panama  for  only  a  small  portion  of  the  force 
intended  to  aid  me  in  my  duties  on  the  boundary,  I  leave  you  in  the 
city  of  Panama  in  charge  of  that  portion  which  remains. 

I  have  this  day  requested  the  commissioner  to  place  you  in  funds,  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense  of  detention  in  Panama  and  the 
transportation  to  San  Diego,  where  it  is  desirable,  indeed  all-important, 
you  should  be  with  the  whole  party  as  speedily  as  possible. 

To  effect  this,  and  preserve  order,  I  delegate  to  you  full  authority  to 
act  according  to  your  judgment. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

W.  H.  EMORY, 

Brevet  M»jor  U.  S.  A.,  Chief  Ast.  and  Top.  Ertg.  B    C. 
Lieut.  A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

Corps  Topographical  Engineers. 


[34] 


40 


PANAMA,  NEW  GRANADA,  May  14,  1849. 

SIR:  A  detachment  of  Major  Emory's  party  having  been  left  at  this 
place,  under  my  charge,  I  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  estimate  for 
its  subsistence  during  our  probable  detention  in  Panama: 

For  board  and  quarters  for  six  persons  attached  to  the  bound- 

ary commission,  30  days,  at  §2  each  per  day  ...............  $360  00 

For  funds  to  cover  contingent  expenses,  the  purchase  of  candles, 
cooking  utensils,  &c.,  necessary  for  the  use  of  my  party  while 
engaged  upon  boundary  sendee  in  the  field  .................  140  00 


500  00 


A  requisition  for  the  above  is  respectfully  submitted  by  me. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

Lieut.  U.  S.  Army,  and  attached  to  U.  S.  B. 
Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  Stales  Commissioner. 


PANAMA,  Men/  17, 1849. 

SIR:  Under  instructions  from  Major  Emory,  I  have  been  left  here  in 
charge  of  that  portion  of  his  party  which  cannot  obtain  passage  to  San 
Diego  in  the  steamer  Panama. 

From  the  instructions  above  mentioned  the  following  is  an  extract: 

"I  have  this  day  requested  the  commissioner  to  place  you  in  funds  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense  of  detention  in  Panama  and  the  trans- 
portation to  San  Diego." 

Having  heard  that  you  are  to  sail  this  day  in  the  Panama,  I  take  the 
liberty  of  asking  to  be  supplied  at  once  with  the  funds  necessary  for  the 
subsistence  and  transportation  of  my  party.  I  feel  assured,  that  to  one 
with  your  knowledge  of  military  discipline,  I  need  only  call  your  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  I  have  orders  which  must  be  executed,  and  that  for 
the  pecuniary  means  necessary  to  enable  me  to  accomplish  that  with  which 
I  am  charged,  I  can  look  to  no  one  but  the  commissioner  himself. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

U.  S.  Commissioner. 


PANAMA,  NEW  GRANADA,  May  17,  1849. 

SIR:  In  answer  to  your  note  of  this  date,  I  have  to  say  that,  although 
I  expect  to  sail  to-day  on  the  Panama,  I  leave  a  quartermaster  behind, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  provide  subsistence,  transportation,  (fee.,  for  those  of 
the  paity  who  maybe  detained.  He  will  leave,  under  my  instructions,  on 
the  Oregon;  arid  up  to  that  time  heAvill  see  that  all  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  party  are  paid.  If  you,  and  those  placed  under  your  chargej  are 


41  [34] 

detained  beyond  that  time,  funds  will  be  left  to  defray  all  the  necessary 
expenses. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.   WELLER, 

U.  S.  Commissioner. 
Lieut.  A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 

United  States  Army. 


PANAMA,  May  17,  1849. 

SIR:  I  send  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Colonel  Weller,  and  his  reply, 
that  you  may  understand  the  condition  in  which  1  am  left  by  the  com- 
missioner. 

In  the  first  place,  several  days  since,  I  made  up  my  accounts  for  trans- 
portation and  per  diem  allowance,  according  to  the  expressed  desire  of  the 
commissioner,  which,  when  presented,  he  was  willing  to  take  and  send 
to  the  department  at  home,  but  refused  to  pay. 

At  the  same  time  I  presented,  at  his  request,  an  estimate  and  requisi- 
tion for  the  subsistence  of  those  left  under  my  charge.  This  requisition 
he  never  answered. 

Finding  myself  about'to  be  penniless,  and  absolutely  out  of  the  reach 
of  assistance,  the  correspondence  of  this  date  followed. 

I  sent  to  him  also  a  message  by  Mr.  Gardner,  with  a  request  that  he 
would  send  to  me  $400,  and  take  a  receipt  such  as  follows  :  "  Received 
of  the  Hon.  John  B.  Weller,  United  States  commissioner,  the  sum  of 
$400,  which  sum  is  designed  to  pay  for  subsistence  and  transportation 
for  myself  to  San  Diego,  and  is  to  be  refunded  to  the  commissioner, 
or  covered  by  proper  vouchers."  This  he  returned  without  comment. 

I  then  wrote  a  note  to  Major  Vinton,  desiring  to  know  from  what  appro- 
priation my  transportation  should  be  paid,  under  the  circumstances  stated. 

He  returned  a  verbal  message  merely,  referring  me  to  Major  McKin- 
stry,  who  is  now  on  the  steamer,  out  of  my  reach. 

Should  I,  therefore,  be  left  here  without  funds  to  pay  my  expenses  here 
and  obtain  transportation  for  myself  and  servant  to  San  Diego,  and  should 
my  communication  with  you,  my  commanding  officer,  be  cut  off,  I  shall 
be  compelled  to  write  the  circumstances  to  Colonel  Abert,  and  have  the 
matter  brought  before  the  government,  that  the  responsibility  may  rest 
where  it  belongs. 

In  case  the  person  designated  by  the  commissioner  as  a  quartermaster 
promptly  pays  the  expenses  which  I  may  deem  necessary,  I  shall  acquiesce; 
otherwise  it  will  be  necessary  to  inquire  from  higher  authority  whether 
an  officer  of  the  army  must  be  subject  to  the  control  of  an  irresponsible 
person,  without  a  commission,  and  unknown  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours,  &c.,  &c., 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE. 

Major  EMORY, 

Chief  Asf.  and  Top.  Eng.  Boundary  Survey. 


[  34  ]  42 

PANAMA,  May  17,  1849. 

SIR:  In  Washington  I  was  detailed  for  duty  upon  the  boundary  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico.     Will  you  please  to  inform  me  from  what 
appropriation  I  am  to  receive  my  mileage  or  travelling  expenses  to  San 
Diego.     If  from  the  appropriation  for  the  boundary  survey,  please  refer  me 
to  the  regulation  which  authorizes  it;  if  from  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment, I  would  be  glad  to  know  whether  you  are  prepared  to  pay  it. 
Necessity  is  my  excuse  for  troubling  you  so  soon  after  your  illness. 
Very  truly,  yours,  &c.,  &c., 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE, 
Lieut.  United  States  Army. 
Major  VINTON, 

Quartermaster  U.  S.  Army. 


PANAMA,  May  22,  1849. 

SIR:  The  enclosed  copy  of  instructions  from  Major  Emory  to  myself 
will  show  you  the  position  I  occupy  with  reference  to  the  United  States 
and  to  the  boundary  commission. 

The  plan  of  operations  upon  the  boundary  line,  submitted  by  Major 
Emory  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  requires  immediately  at  San  Diego  the 
presence  of  not  only  myself,  but  also  the  civil  assistants  who  have  been 
assigned  to  duty  in  his  department.  I,  therefore,  as  an  officer  of  the  army 
of  the  United  States,  feel  it  my  duty  to  look  to  you,  as  consul  for  the  same 
government,  for  assistance  in  obtaining  passage  for  myself  and  servant 
in  the  first  steamer  which  sails  hence  for  San  Diego. 

The  civil  assistants  referred  to  above  are — 

Dr.  Charles  Parry,  computer. 

Mr.  Edward  Ingraham,  recorder  and  assistant  computer. 

Mr.  G.  Clinton  Gardner,     "  "  " 

Mr.  B.  B.  Ludlum,  "  "  " 

Mr.  R.  Rust. 

Francis  Holly,  employe. 

The  services  of  the  six  persons  above  mentioned  are  important  to  the 
commission,  and  I  shall  much  regret  to  leave  any  of  them  behind.  But 
should  it  be  impossible  to  obtain  passage  immediately  for  all,  I  would  de- 
signate assistants  Parry,  Ingraham,  and  Gardner,  and  employe  Holly, 
as  indispensable  for  the  performance  of  the  astronomical  duty  on  which 
the  commencement  of  the  survey  of  the  United  States  and  Mexican 
boundary  line  depends;  and  must,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  the  boundary 
commission,  request  your  influence  to  secure  for  them  a  passage  to  San 
Diego  in  the  steamer  Oregon,  which  is  about  to  sail  from  this  place. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE. 

WILLIAM  NELSON,  Esq., 

Consul  of  the  U.  S.,  Panama,  N.  G. 


43  [  34  ] 

PANAMA,  May  23, 1849. 

SIR:  Your  note  of  the  22d  instant  has  been  received.  An  arrangement 
had  previously  been  made  between  Mr.  O.  S.  Witherby  and  myself,  by 
which  it  was  determined  that  a  certain  number  of  persons  attached  to  the 
boundary  commission  could  be  accommodated  upon  the  steamer  Oregon. 
That  number  was  designated  by  Mr.  Witherby,  and  the  list  arranged  to 
his  satisfaction. 

Upon  the  strength  of  your  recommendation,  and  the  apparent  necessity 
to  the  commission  for  the  services  of  those  designated  by  you,  their  names 
were  added  by  me  to  the  number  already  upon  the  list,  although  much 
against  my  desire,  the  boat  being  already  too  much  crowded;  and  his  list, 
with  the  prices  of  passage  attached,  was  sent  to  Mr.  Witherby  for  a  draft 
to  cover  the  amount. 

This  he  refused,  alleging  he  was  the  person  designated  by  the  commis- 
sioner to  make  the  selection  of  those  who  were  to  go,  and  that  a  Mr.  Con- 
ner, carpenter,  and  others,  were  more  necessary  to  tke  service  of  the 
commission  than  those  designated  by  you.  He  was  willing  to  pay  for 
their  extra  tickets,  provided  he  could  select  the  persons  to  receive  them; 
but  when  informed  that  the  steamer  was  already  crowded,  that  tickets  for 
the  persons  in  question  were  only  issued  upon  the  supposed  necessity  of 
their  presence  in  San  Diego  being  indispensable,  he  preferred  detaining 
the  whole  until  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  California,  rather  than  any 
should  go  other  than  those  selected  by  himself. 

For  yourself  and  servant  I  have  secured  passage. 

In  haste,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  NELSON. 

Lieutenant  WHIPPLE, 

United  States  Army,  fyc. 


PANAMA,  Hay  23,  1849. 

SIR:  Colonel  Welter  informed  me  that  he  left  aa  quartermaster  behind," 
and  that,  when  this  quartermaster  sailed  for  San  Diego,  funds  would  be 
left  to  defray  all  the  necessary  expenses  of  those  of  my  party  remaining. 

Should  I  be  right  in  supposing  you  to  be  the  quartermaster  referred  to 
by  Colonel  Weller,  I  have  to  request  you  to  inform  me  ia  whose  hands 
funds  will  be  left  after  your  departure  in  the  Oregon,  and  who  will  be  re- 
sponsible for  the  payment  of  the  necessary  expenses  here,  and  transporta- 
tion hence,  of  those  under  my  charge. 

At  the  same  time,  while  I  must  for  the  want  of  funds  submit,  I  strongly 
protest  against  your  decision  of  yesterday,  in  refusing  to  pay  for  the  pas- 
sage of  those  young  gentlemen  of  the  commission  whom  the  United 
States  consul,  at  my  request,  agreed  to  add  to  the  number  of  those  desig- 
nated by  you  for  passage  to  San  Diego  in  the  steamer  Oregon. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  W.  WHIPPLE. 

O.  S.  WITHERBY,  Esq.,  Panama. 


[34] 


44 


PANAMA,  May  23,  1849. 

DEAR  SIR:  Mr.  Kaufman  will  act  as  quartermaster  from  this  time,  and 
will  defray  all  necessary  expense  of  the  members  of  the  commission. 
He  will  assign  quarters  to  Messrs.  Ingraham,  Gardner,  and  Parry.  Your 
accounts,  np  to  this  day,  will  be  paid  by  me;  you  are  right  in  supposing 
I  am  quartermaster;  I  should  suppose  you  would  have  found  it  out  before. 
Mr.  Kaufman  will  have  the  full  control  of  all  matters  hereafter. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

O.  S.  WITHERBY. 
Lieutenant  WHIPPLE. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  November  17, 1849. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  address  the  department,  and  ask  permission 
to  have  filed  the  accompanying  copies  of  letters  which  have  passed  be- 
tween Mr.  Weller  and  myself. 

My  late  reconnoissance  towards  the  Gila  river,  along  the  boundary,  does 
not  appear  to  give  him  satisfaction,  although  I  contend  that  everything 
was  accomplished  that  could  have  been  expected,  and  under  not  the  most 
favorable  circumstances  either. 

I  cannot  but  believe  that  other  influences  than  those  of  an  impartial  na- 
ture now  induce  him  to  judge  of  my  actions  upon  this  line;  an;!  there- 
fore I  hope  the  department  will  permit  me  to  refer  my  work,  or  such  por- 
tion of  it  as  is  unsatisfactory  to  the  present  commissioner,  to  the  gov- 
ernment at  Washington. 

The  most  amicable  relations  exist  between  the  Mexican  commissioner 
and  myself;  and  I  am  happy  to  state  that  every  accommodation,  and  feel- 
ings of  reciprocity,  pass  between  the  surveyor  on  the  part  of  Mexico  and 
myself,  consistent  with  our  duties  to  our  respective  governments. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ANDREW  B.  GRAY, 

United  States  Surveyor. 

Hon.  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washington  city,  D.  O. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  November  7,  1849. 

SIR:  Having  returned  from  my  recent  reconnoissance  in  the  direction  of 
the  Gila  river  and  the  vicinity  of  the  boundary,  I  have  to  report  to  you 
that  I  find  there  will  be  little  or  no  difficulty  in  the  demarcation  of  the 
line  almost  entire  from  the  Pacific  to  the  junction  of  said  river,  where  it 
unites  with  the  Colorado,  and  with  sufficient  accuracy  for  all  the  purposes 
required  by  the  treaty — such  as  mapping,  &c. 

I  .procured  such  Indian  guides  as  were  supposed  to  have  the  best  knowl- 
edge of  the  country  over  which  I  designed  passing,  and  proceeded  along 
one  of  their  tr.'iils  until  I  thought  we  had  gone  sufficiently  far  northward 
to  preclude  all  doubt  of  the  line  in  its  true  course  reaching  beyond  that 
latitude. 


45  [  34  ] 

Here  the  Indians,  in  order  to  descend  the  mountains  to  cross  the  por- 
tion of  country  which  has  been  termed  the  desert,  (a  part  of  which  the  line 
must  pass  over,)  wished  to  take  us  a  long  distance  round,  and  still  further 
north. 

I  determined  to  make  an  examination,  and  ascertain  if  it  was  not  practi- 
cable to  go  down  at  a  much  nearer  point  to  where  I  supposed  the  line 
would  intersect  this  desert.  For  a  day  and  a  half  we  now  remained  en- 
camped at  the  base  of  a  prominent  peak,  the  southernmost  part  very  nearly 
of  a  conspicuous  range  of  mountains  rising  greatly  above  even  the  eleva- 
ted region  we  had  thus  far  reached.  I  ascended  this  peak,  and  made  a 
panoramic  sketch  of  the  topographical  features  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try; also,  obtained  a  good  observation  for  determining  its  barometic  height. 
Some  miles  distant  was  another  mountain,  apparently  similarly  situated, 
and  which  I  suppose  might  be  about  equally  far  to  the  southward.  Be- 
tween these  two  peaks  or  mountains  I  believe  the  line  must  pass,  and  the 
one  nearest  our  encampment  I  consider  an  important  feature  in  the  to- 
pography of  the  line  for  mapping,  on  account  of  its  conspicuous  position, 
as  seen  from  the  travelled  road  across  the  country  from  Sonora  to  Califor- 
nia. Very  nearly  east  now  I  directed  our  examination,  and  found  that  I 
could  descend  with  the  animals  and  packs,  with  apparently  but  little  de- 
tention, to  a  level  with  the  plain  or  "desert." 

We  descended  without  accident  of  any  kind,  and,  on  arriving  at  the 
bottom  of  the  pass,  found  a  canon  extending  northerly  and  southerly.  I 
had  not  time  to  examine  the  latter  direction  just  then,  or  follow  it  very 
far,  though  I  believe  it  runs  some  distance,  possibly  to  where  the  line  may 
cross;  but  I  decided,  from  various  reasons,  to  proceed  northerly  and  east- 
erly, our  guides  affecting  to  know  nothing  of  the  country  we  were  now 
in.  In  about  eight  or  ten  miles  we  struck  a  road,  which  proved  to  be  the 
main  road  from  San  Diego,  and  near  where  it  crosses  the  bed  of  what  is 
called  "Cane  creek."  We  continued  on  this  road  and  reached  the 
"Agua  Nueva"  encampment,  which  I  estimated  to  be  about  two-thirds 
of  the  entire  distance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  or  more. 

At  this  point  I  met  a  large  party  of  government  officers  and  men,  who 
had  been  a  long  time  on  their  way  to  their  place  of  destination.  It  was 
the  party  of  Colonel  Collier,  consisting  of  himself,  (the  collector  for  San 
Francisco,)  assistants,  &c.  They  had  learned  of  my  having  crossed  the 
mountains  and  into  the  desert  by  a  different  route  from  the  old  road,  and 
were  very  anxious  to  proceed  to  the  settlements  in  the  shortest  possible 
time  consistent  with  the  safety  of  their  packs,  &c.  They  were  on  re- 
duced rations,  and  their  animals  almost  exhausted. 

The  officer  commanding  the  company  of  dragoons  (the  escort)  and 
others  came  to  my  camp  to  obtain  from  me  any  information  in  my  power 
to  give  relative  to  the  country  we  had  gone  over.  I  showed  my  rough 
notes  and  sketches,  but  did  riot  ad  vise,  under  the  circumstances,  their  going 
by  this  pass.  They,  however,  decided  to  attempt  it,  believing  it  almost 
impossible  for  them  to  reach  San  Diego  by  the  wagon- road  route  in  safety 
to  their  animals,  (fee.;  and,  at  their  earnest  solicitation,  I  agreed  to  return 
to  guide  them  in.  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  do  so,  although  I  was  particularly 
desirious  to  reach  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  to  observe  myself  its  situation, 
and  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  it,  preparatory  to  a  decision  of  the  point 
where  its  middle  unites  with  the  Colorado,  and  the  mapping  of  the  same. 

I  would  not  send  my  assistant  back  to  guide  this  party,  because  I  wished 


[  84  ]  46 

to  be  there  myself,  in  case  of  any  accident  or  obstacle  occurring,  it  being 
the  first  time  that  I  believed  its  ascent  had  ever  been  attempted  with  packs, 
&c.  I  therefore  gave  directions  to  Mr.  Forster,  my  assistant,  to  con- 
tinue on,  to  make  the  reconnoissance  of  the  remainder  of  the  line,  and, 
on  arriving  at  the  Gila,  to  make  such  a  survey  and  exploration  of  its 
mouth  as  the  time  would  admit  of,  and  which  would  enable  me  to  decide 
what  further  course  to  pursue  in  fixing  its  position,  &c. 

On  returning  from  the  "Agua  Nueva"  encampment,  I  followed  for  a 
long  distance  the  direction  I  supposed  the  boundary  would  take,  (from 
all  the  data  we  had  to  go  upon,)  leaving  the  road  some  distance  to  the 
northward.  Being  by  myself,  and  night  overtaking  me  before  I  had  com- 
pleted the  reconnoissance  to  connect  with  the  point  where  I  thought  the 
line  would  come  down  the  mountains,  I  unfortunately  became  entangled 
amid  some  precipitous  cliffs.  Before  I  could  extricate  myself  entirely,  it 
being  dark,  my  animal  fell  and  left  me  afoot.  I,  however,  came  up  with 
the  party  the  next  day.  This  was  the  only  accident  occurring  of  any 
note  on  our  expedition. 

Mr.  Forster  returned  within  the  time  our  escort  was  asked  for,  (twenty 
days,)  from  the  Gila,  and  everything  has  been  accomplished  that  the  cir- 
cumstances occurring  would  permit,  and  much  information  obtained  rela- 
tive to  the  topography  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  line,  and  the 
practicability  of  a  very  correct  map  being  made  of  it. 

From  the  report  of  my  assistant  of  the  reconnoissance  and  survey 
made  by  him  under  my  direction,  particularly  of  the  m«uth  of  the  Gila, 
I  find  that  it  may  be  probable  that  a  difference  of  opinion  might  arise  as 
to  the  position  of  the  precise  point  of  the  junction  of  the  river  Gila,  where 
it  unites  with  the  Colorado. 

The  surveyor  on  the  part  of  Mexico  having  now  gone  over,  and  express- 
ing to  me  his  desire  that  I  should  be  upon,  the  ground  at  the  same  time 
with  himself,  I  respectfully  request  that  I  may  be  furnished  with  the  re- 
quisite animals,  &c.,and  that  you  agree  with  me  in  a  continuance  of  the 
survey  and  exploration  of  this  line.  It  can  be  followed  from  the  river  to 
its  intersection  with  the  mountains  on  this  side  of  the  plain  or  "  desert," 
and  notes  accurately  taken,  without  any  difficulty,  and  in  comparatively 
a  short  space  of  time,  and  before  the  rains  shall  have  set  in  sufficiently  to 
drive  us  from  the  field. 

I  deem  it  important  that  this  should  be  accomplished,  because  it  is  not 
entirely  a  barren  plain,  but  in  parts  capable  of  sustaining  a  strong 
vegetation. 

It  is  also  cut  up  with  dry  arroyas  and  beds  of  streams,  which  at  times 
may  flow  with  water;  and  in  the  vicinity  is  a  heavily- travelled  highway 
for  our  own  people,  as  well  as  those  of  the  adjoining  republic.  The 
expense  would  be  comparatively  little,  knowing  now  the  exact  character 
of  the  country  it  passes  through — what  facilities  we  can  depend  upon  at 
the  various  points  in  the  neighborhood;  and  the  results  would  be  in  direct 
conformity  with  the  treaty. 

If  the  azimuth  of  the  line  has  been  determined  from  the  results  of  the 
latitude  and  longitude  of  the  extremes,  as  agreed  by  the  joint  commission 
should  be  made,  and  I  am  furnished  with  the  same  from  the  party  having 
that  duty  to  perform,  I  will  be  better  enabled  to  pursue  the  precise  di- 
rection; or,  if  the  results  of  the  observations  made  to  fix  these  points 
geographically  are  given  me,  I  will  determine  the  azimuth  myself. 


47  [  34  ] 

I  should  expect  to  take  but  a  small  party  with  me;  and,  with  what  we 
now  have  of  notes  and  surveys  made,  and  what  may  yet  be  accomplished, 
I  believe  all  might  be  obtained  requisite  for  mapping  and  planning  of  the 
line. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GRAY, 
United  States  Surveyor. 
Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  States  Commissioner. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  November  8,  1849. 

SIR:  Your  communication  of  yesterday  has  been  received.  Without 
entering  into  any  discussion  upon  the  subject,  I  must  be  permitted  to 
say  that  your  reasons  for  returning  without  making  the  personal  exami- 
nation of  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  river  (for  which  your  expedition  was 
started)  are  far  from  being  satisfactory  to  my  mind.  I  have  felt,  and 
still  feel,  the  necessity  for  an  accurate  survey  of  the  point  at  which  the 
Gila  empties  into  the  Colorado;  but  as  you  have  failed  to  furnish  it,  I  pre- 
sume I  will  be  able  to  obtain  the  necessary  information  from  Lieutenant 
Whipple,  on  his  return.  For  the  present,  at  least,  I  decline,  for  various 
reasons,  sending  out  a  detachment  from  your  party. 
Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JNO.  B.   WELLER,  U.  S.  Comrrfr. 
A.  B.  GRAY,  Esq.,  U.  S.  Surveyor. 


SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA,  November  9,  1849. 

SIR:  Last  evening  I  received  your  communication  in  answer  to  mine 
of  the  7th  instant.  I  am  not  desirous  of  entering  into  a  discussion  rela- 
tive to  my  recent  reconnoissance,  believing  myself  to  have  been  the  best 
judge  of  the  proper  disposition  of  my  party  while  in  the  field,  &c..  Still 
I  regret  that  you  do  not  seem  pleased  at  what  has  been  done  by  the  ex- 
pedition, when  every  exertion  was  used  by  myself  and  party  to  accom- 
plish all  that  was  expected. 

It  was  but  for  twenty  days,  and  we  had  to  pass  from  the  Pacific  to  the 
Colorada  river  and  back  in  this  time,  to  sketch  in  the  topography  of  the 
country  along  the  boundary,  as  near  as  practicable,  and  to  h'x  the  mouth 
and  vicinity  of  the  Gila  for  mapping,  <fec.  A  desert,  and  an  impassable 
descent  from  mountains,  it  was  supposed  we  would  encounter;  and  great 
precaution  was  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  party. 
,«,  You  will  agree  with  me,  I  am  sure,  in  this,  that  the  situation  of  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Gila,  as  regards  a  difference  of  opinion  arising  relative 
to  the  exact  position  of  the  boundary  at  that  point,  is  different  from  what 
we  had  understood,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  your  letter  to  me  of 
the  14th  of  August,  wherein  you  state  that  you  are  "informed  that  the 
precise  point  at  which  the  Gila  empties  into  the  Colorado  is  so  distinctly 
marked  that  there  will  be  no  difficulty  whatever  in  fixing  it;"  and  this 


134] 


48 


was  the  only  data  we  nad  to  go  upon  when  we  started  out.  I  did  not 
know  to  the  contrary  until  my  assistant,  Mr.  Forster,  reported  to  me  his 
reconnoissarice  of  the  m«uth  of  that  river. 

Everything  has  been  accomplished  of  the  surveys  and  reconnoissances 
that  I  expected  when  we  left,  and  I  am  now  preparing  a  sketch  of  the  tri- 
angulations  made  of  the  mouth  of  the  Gila.  I  will  here  state,  that  the  time 
being  limited  (a  few  days  only)  for  my  party  to  remain  there,  my  assist- 
ant, Mr.  Forster,  made  a  joint  reconnoissance  and  survey  in  connexion 
with  Lieutenant  Whipple;  and,  so  soon  as  the  plan  of  the  same  is  made 
out,  I  will  present  it  to  you,  with  reports,  &c.  I  hope  this  will  meet  with 
your  approval. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GRAY, 

United  States  Surveyor,  Mexican  Boundaiy. 
Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  States  Commissioner. 


SAX  DIEGO,  November  14,  1849. 

SIR:  I  herewith  submit  to  you  a  sketch  or  plan  of  the  junction  of  the 
Rio  Gila,  where  it  unites  with  the  Colorado,  as  referred  to  in  my  commu- 
nication of  the  9th  instant. 

It  is  made  from  the  notes  and  topography  of  the  reconnoissance  and 
survey  of  that  point  by  my  assistant,  Mr.  Forster,  (aided  by  Lieutenant 
Whipple,)  in  our  late  expedition. 

B  and  C  are  two  points  which  at  present  might  be  considered  the  ends 
of  the  banks  which  form  the  Gila  at  its  embouchure  into  the  Colorado; 
and  A,  another  point  which  I  have  placed  as  about  the  position  where  the 
two  waters  mingle,  or  very  nearly  where  the  middle  of  the  Rio  Gila  unites 
with  the  Colorado.  The  latter  river  now  being  low,  the  current  is  swift- 
est between  the  island  and  main  land,  and  strikes  the  water  of  the  Gila 
at  A,  but  when  higher  the  two  waters  may  join  or  mingle  some  distance 
further  north . 

The  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Gila  at  B  is  constantly  wearing  away 
by  the  action  of  the  currents,  being  low  and  soft;  consequently,  the  posi- 
tion of  that  point  changes,  as  also  the  configuration  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Gila;  and  the  point  D  may  very  shortly  be  (if  not  now  considered)  the 
end  of  the  southern  or  western  bank  of  that  river.  The  middle,  there- 
fore, to-day,  may  not  be  the  same  as  yesterday. 

The  waters,  after  mingling,  converge  and  break  through  a  dyke  of 
feltzspatic  rock,  about  seven  hundred  feet  across;  and  if  it  is  decided  that 
the  point  where  the  middle  of  the  river  Gila  unites  with  the  Colorado  is 
at  A,  the  line  of  boundary  in  its  course  from  the  Pacific  will  probably  fall 
to  the  southward  of  the  bluffs,  and  thus  include  in  our  territory  both  sides 
of  the  Colorado,  at  the  present  emigrant  crossing.  These  elevated  heights 
may  be  considered  important,  not  only  in  a  civil  but  military  point  of 
view. 

The  rains  and  weather  having  been  so  severe  for  some  days,  I  have 
been  prevented  from  drawing,  &c.,  in  my  tents,  or  the  accompanying 


49  [  34  ] 

plan  would  have  been  submitted  earlier.     I  am  preparing  my  notes  and 
sketches  now  for  mapping  our  further  reconnoissances  along  the  bound- 
ary line,  and  when  completed  they  will  be  properly  submitted. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GRAY, 

United  States  Surveyor  under  treaty  with  Mexico. 
Hon.  JOHN  B.  WELLER, 

United  States  Commissioner. 


The  sum  appropriated  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  August  12, 1848, 
towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  running  and  marking  the 
boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  under 
the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  was <$ 50,000 

Of  this  appropriation  commissioner  Welter's  drafts  have 

been  paid  to  the  amount  of. $33,325 

Drafts  have  also  been  presented,  but  not  yet  paid,  to  the 

amount  of 14,000 

Making  the  whole  amount  for  which  drafts  have  been 

received,  paid  and  unpaid 47,325    47,325 

Leaving  of  the  appropriation  a  balance  of. 2,675 


From  an  abstract  of  disbursements  made  by  com- 
missioner Weller,  furnished  by  the  Fifth  Auditor 
of  the  Treasury,  and  a  copy  of  which  is  hereto 
attached,  it  appears  that  the  amount  of  the  vouch- 
ers filed  by  him  is $43,837  18 

Which  embraces  no  charge  for  the  salary  of  himself 
or  Mr.  Gray,  the  surveyor,  subsequent  to  July 
3,  1849. 

And  it  appears  from  commissioner  Weller's  report 
of  the  3d  ultimo  that  there  was  also  then  due  to 
his  employes  about 11,000 


Making  the  amount  actually  disbursed  and  lia- 
bilities incurred  up  to  the  date  of  the  last  re- 
port    54,837  18  54,837  18 

Appropriation 50,000  00 

Excess  over  appropriation 4,837  18   54,837  18 


TREASURY  DEPARTMENT, 
Fifth  Auditor's  Office,  February  25,  1850. 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  19th  instant, 
on  the  subject  of  the  boundary  line  with  Mexico,  a  copy  of  which  was 
Ex.— 4 


[  34  ]  50 

referred  to  me,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  an  abstract  containing  in  detail 
the  expenses  paid  hy  John  B.  Weller,  esq.,  the  commissioner  for  running 
the  line,  for  what  purpose  paid,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  to  whom 
paid,  taken  from  the  accounts  of  that  officer,  which  have  been  rendered  to 
this  office  for  settlement. 

This  is  the  only  part  of  the  information  sought  by  the  resolution  which 
can  be  afforded  by  this  office. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  PLEASONTON. 

Hon.  THOMAS  EWIXG, 

Secretary  of  tlie  Interior. 


Abstract  of  the  disbursements  made  by  John  B.  Welter,  the  United  States 
Commissioner  to  run  the  boundary  line  bctu'ecn  the  United  States  and 

Mexico,  as  per  his  accounts  and  vouchers  filed  in  the  office  of  the.  Fifth 
Auditor  of  the  Treasury,  viz: 

F.  X.  Weidman  &  Co.,  soap  and  candles §49  84 

Wm.  W.  McCormick,  camp  equipage 44  30 

John  Devereaux,  cooking  utensils 11  85 

C.  Badger,  coffee 26  50 

Dunning  &  Mtoore,  beef. 17  62 

Dudley  &  Nelson,  supplies 9  50 

Denton  &  Barrett,  groceries  and  supplies .- ..  80  55 

George  Dominick,  beef  and  pork 214  13 

Lot  Pugh  &  Co.,  pork 131  00 

D.  Banting,  cheese,  &c. 25  61 

Converse  &  Co.,  beans  and  rice 32  98 

R.  Men-ill,  jr.,  bread 271  26 

Porter  &  Hoover,  butter 107  58 

C.  L.  Weller,  blankets 42  00 

Magee  &  Kneap,  supplies 98  50 

Stark,  Day  &  Co.,  camp  supplies 1  38 

Henderson  &  Gaines,  camp  supplies 12  30 

J.  Waterman  &  Co.,  hatchets,  nails,  screws,  &c 13  12 

Moses  Conner,  lumber,  &c 2  50 

E.  K.  Chamberlain,  camp  equipage 24  00 

L.  Mount,  board 26  16 

U.  S.  steamship  Alabama,  transportation 487  00 

M.  Murray,  board  of  self  and  party 214  70 

O.  Smith,  transportation 98  75 

Julian  De  Miranda,  boarding  at  Gorgona 190  75 

Michel  Devine,  boarding  at  Gorgona 24  00 

Miguel  Jose  de  Miranda,  boarding  at  Gorgona 120  00 

Juana  Juez  Timenez,  subsistence  party  of  Emory 26  00 

O.  Smith,  U.  S.  quartermaster,  subsistence.  Panama 89  75 

J.  Jansen,  subsistence,  Panama 1,000  50 

Simon  Esquirel,  subsistence,  Panama. 29  30 

Francisco  de  la  Barrera,  board  and  rent 17  00 

Malenla  Duleon,  rent,  Panama 30  00 


51  [  34  ] 

J.  J.  Victoria  y  Eliavarrie,  rent,  Panama $96  00 

Petra  Amador,  rent,  Panama 225  00 

Jose  Arosemenas,  rent,  Panama 21  00 

Antonio  Jubiatta,  rent,  Panama 36  00 

Micaella  Ducer,  rent,  Panama 28  00 

Bias  Arosmeneg,  rent,  Panama 105  50 

Francisco  Jimenes  de  Arze,  rent,  coal,  and  wood,  Panama.  258  75 
Captain   H.   O'Donnell,     quartermaster,   provisions,    camp 

equipage,  &c.,  at  New  York 1,910  13 

Steamboat  Webster,  transportation  line  to  New  Orleans 256  55 

Steamer  Orus,  transportation,  Chagres  to  Gorgona 507  25 

Wm.  W.  McCormick,  transportation,  Chagres  to  Gorgona. . .  38  52 

Alfred  A.  Wood,  transportation,  Chagres  to  Gorgona 88  50 

Michael  Subreti,  transportation,  Chagres  to  Gorgona 2  50 

C.  S©dada,  canoes  for  astronomical  instruments 34  00 

R.  H.  Leetcht  &  Co.,  transportation  baggage  and  stores.  . ..  1,580  00 

Ciriaco  Perez,  transportation  baggage  and  stores 108  00 

Cruces  Bosques,  transportation  baggage  and  stores 30  00 

Manuel  Siebestre  Moreno,  transportation  baggage  and  stores.  12  00 

Bruno  Perez,  transportation  baggage  and  stores 40  00 

Sundry  peons,  transportation,  vouchers  12  to  53  inclusive, . . .  705  75 
Brig  Two  Friends,  passage  and  freight  from  Panama  to  San 

Francisco 1 ,464  75 

Steamship  Panama,  passage  and  freight  to  San  Diego. ..:...  1,600  00 

Steamship  California,  passage  and  freight  to  San  Diego 2,750  00 

Zachrisson,  Nelson  &  Co.,  passage  and  freight  to  San  Diego  1,450  00 

William  R.  Kinder,  employe,  at  §400  per  annum 53  05 

Wm.  T.  De  Bree,  surveyors'  corps,  at  $400  per  annum 42  10 

C.  J.  Whiting,  assistant  surveyor,  at  $1,800  per  annum  ....  248  63 

Francis  Stone,  employe,  at  $400  per  annum 50  87 

Edward  Ingraham,  Major  Emory's  corps,  at  $400  per  annum  12  05| 

O.  S.  Witherby,  employe,  at  $400  per  annum 33  33 \ 

Do  acting    quartermaster    and   commissary,  at 

$1,000  per  annum '....  43  83 

Charles  C.  Parry,  assistant  computer  Major  Emory,  at  $600 

per  annum 37  80 

Moses  M.  Conner,  carpenter,  at  $1  50  per  day 69  00 

Urbano  Idalgo,  servant,  at  $12  per  month 12  00 

William  Harvey,  employe,  at  $30  per  month 60  00 

M.  R.  Coleman,  employe,  at  $400  per  annum 53  05 

James   Mooney,  jr.,   principal    computer  Major    Emory,  at 

$1,000  per  annum 105  25 

Mary  Kirk,  washerwoman,  at  $1  50  per  day 15  00 

James  Mooney,  jr.,  principal  computer,  at  $1,000  per  annum.  83  33 
G.  C.  Gardner,  jr.,  assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $400  per  an- 
num    50  86 

F.  M.  Holley,  servant  Major  Emory,  at  $25  per  month 9  04 

H.  H.  Robinson,  secretary  to  commissioner,  at   $1,500    per 

annum 219  52 

Gilbert  Murdock,  employ^,  at  $400  per  annum 50  87 

E.  K.  Chamberlain,  surgeon,  at  $1,200  per  annum 162  46 

Henry  Clayton,  draftsman,  at  $1,000  per  annum 121  69 


[  34  ]  52 

John  H.  Forster,  assistant  surveyor,  at  $800, per  annum $117  06 

Dennis  Gahagan,  at  $1,000  per  annum 

George  F.    Hooper,  sub  assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $800  per 

annum 105  20 

Frederick  Emory,  sub-assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $800  per 

annum 98  63 

John  M.  Robinson,  at  $400  per  annum 

Win.  A.  Taylor,  assistant  surveyor,  at  $800  per  annum 101  73 

Louis  Kzouzewski,  at  $30  per  month. 30  00 

George  F.  Hooper,  sub-assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $800  per 

annum 66  66 

Frederick  Emory,  sub-assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $800  per 

annum 

Dennis  Gahagan,  interpreter,  at  $1,000  per  annum 

Gilbert  Murdock,  employe,  at  $400  per  annum 

F.  M.  Holley,  Majer  Emory's  corps,  at  $25  per  month 

John  McC.  Robinson,  employ^,  at  s400  per  annum 

H.  H.  Robinson,  secretary  to  commissioner,  at  $1,500  per  an- 

num 12500 

Edward  Ingraham,  assistant  Major  Emory,  at  $400  per  an- 
num  

G.  C.  Gardner,  second  assistant,  at  $400  per  annum 

William  D.  Miller,  employe,  at  $30  per  month 30  00 

C.  J.  Whiting,  principal  assistant    surveyor,  at  $1,800  per 

annum 150  00 

Louis  Kzouzewski,  servant  and  cock,  at  $30  per  month  ....  90  00 
A.  B.  Gray,  surveyor,  for  transportation  and  expenses  from 
New  York  to  Panama,  and  purchase  of  articles  necessary 

to  him  as  such 1,099  17 

Joseph  Kaufman,  transportation  and  expenses 40  00 

J.  Harris  Forster,  asssistant  surveyor,  transportation  and  ex- 
penses   140  71 

George  F.  Hooper,  assistant  surveyor/  transportation  and  ex- 
penses   .' 140  13 

William  T.  De  Bree,  assistant  surveyor,  transportation  and 

expenses 70  63 

Charles  J.  Whiting,  principal  assistant,  transportation 169  55 

Brevet  Major  J.  M.  McKinstry,  transportation,  &c 185  00 

Frederick    Emory,   assistant    surveyor,    transportation    and 

passage 149  99 

O.  S.  Witherby,  quartermaster,  provisions,  &c 392  67 

Steamship  Panama,  passage  and  transportation 675  00 

Sundry  peons,  transportation,  freight,. &c 163  85 

C.  Augustus  Smith-,  hospital  stores 276  85 

R.  C.  Little  &  Co.,  hospital  stores 61  00 

C.  L.  Weller,  hospital  stores 107  00 

James  C.  Wingard,  arms  and  accoutrements 125  00 

Dennis  Mahoney,  arms  and  accoutrements 35  00 

R.  G.  Reefer,  repairing  theodolite 2  00 

William  Bond  &  Son,  mathematical  instruments 127  56 

A.  W.  V\  hippie,  transportation  of  instruments 116  62 

Jacob  Ernst,  stationery 51  85 


53  [  34  ] 

Thomas  Maxwell,  stationery $8  50 

Juan  Mendoza,  duties  on  supplies,  &c 

Juan  Mendoza,  duties  on  supplies,  &c 6  75 

Z.  Nelson  &  Co,,  premium  on  exchange 200  00 

Moses  M.  Conner,  lumber 

Frederick  Harrison,  lumber 2  50 

James  Nooney,  travelling  expenses  and  subsistence  of  part 

of  Major  Emory's  corps 160  57 

Major  Emory's  corps,  travelling  expenses  and  subsistence  to 

place  of  embarcation 452  02 

H.  O.  Donnell,  quartermaster  to  commission 135  00 

William  D.  Miller,  Major  Emory's  corps 55  51 

Bernard  Rice,  cook  and  laborer 16  00 

Edward  Brown,  transportation 30  00 

Andrew  B.  Gray,  surveyor,  for  self  and  party,  some  of  the 
preceding  employes  for  services,  commutation,  transporta- 
tion, in  the  field,  &c 2,968  81 

Brevet  Major  Emory,  chief  astronomer,  for  mathematical  instru- 
ments and  stationery,  commutation,  services  in  the  field  of 
some  of  the  before-mentioned  employes,  transportation,  (fee.     3,111  03 
Brevet  Major   J.  McKinstry,  United    States    quartermaster, 
and    some  of  the  foregoing  employes,   for  commutation, 

transportation,  subsistence,  services  in  the  field,  &c 3,156  96 

Steamship  Panama,  transportation,  &c 450  00 

Josiah  Simpson,  captain  barque  Suliote,  from  San  Francisco 

to  San  Diego 1,426  50 

Ramon  Arquilio,  beef  for  commission 75  97 

Charles  J.  Whiting,  principal  assistant  surveyor,  for  subsis- 
tence, transportation,  commutation,  freight,  and  services 

of  self  and  corps  on  a  detached  reconnoissance 2,823  42 

Andrew  B.  Gray  and  Charles  J.  Whiting,  surveyor  and  prin- 
cipal assistant  surveyor,  and  their  parties,  for  services  in 

the  field 4,635  55 

E.  K.  Chamberlain,  camp  equipage 24  00 

Magee  and  Kness,  camp  equipage 98  00 

Morse,  Dunning  &  Co.,  beef  for  commission 17  62 

Captain    Hardcastle,  United  States  topographical  engineer, 

commutation 92  00 

Lieutenant  Whipple,  United  States  topographical   engineer, 

commutation..  108  00 


43,837  18 


In  the  above  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  charge  for  the  salary  of 
Colonel  Welier,  and  for  that  of  A.  B.  Gray  only  until  the  3d  of  July, 
1849. 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT, 

Fifth  Auditor's  Office,  February  26,  1850. 


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